KUSUM Yojna means Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahaabhiyan or KUSUM scheme has launched by The Central Government. This scheme for saving of electric energy of farmers and also provide extra income to farmers, by giving them an option to sell additional power to the grid through solar power projects set up on their barren lands. Under this scheme the farmers can utilize their barren lands for solar energy plant. Besides of this the government will also provide subsidy on the establishment of PF solar power plants on their barren lands.
Kusum Yojana will help in solarization of the agricultural pump sets for doubling the farmer’s income by 2022. The government has also sanctioned Rs. 48,000 crore in the Union Budget 2018-19 for upcoming 5 years.
DISCOMS means Distribution Companies.
Positive Asspects:-
The positive outcomes of this scheme is that when the scheme is fully implemented across the country include promotion of decentralised solar power production, reduction of transmission losses as well as providing support to the financial health of DISCOMs by reducing the subsidy burden to the agriculture sector. The scheme would also promote energy efficiency and water conservation and provide water security to farmers.
The components of the scheme include building 10,000 MW solar plants on barren lands and providing sops to DISCOMS to purchase the electricity produced, ‘Solarising’ existing pumps of 7250 MW as well as government tube wells with a capacity of 8250 MW and distributing 17.5 lakh solar pumps.
This subsidy on solar pumps are given to farmers is divided between center and state government. 60% of subsidy is bear by Centre government and 30% by the States and remaining provided through bank loans. The balance cost has to be borne by the farmers. Besides this, the government will also provide a financial assistance of 60 thousand rupees.
Conclusion-
We can say that KUSUM scheme is beneficial for farmers. Because by this scheme farmers can utilize their barren lands and also earns extra income by selling energy to grid plant. And they also save cost of diesel and these are eco friendly. The scheme would also promote energy efficiency and water conservation and provide water security to farmers.
