Lok Sabha Question No. 5103 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Extending Renewable Energy to  Agriculture Sector
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Manish Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5103

ANSWERED ON 02/04/2025

## EXTENDING RENEWABLE ENERGY TO AGRICULTURE SECTOR

## 5103. SHRI MANISH JAISWAL

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the manner in which the Pradhan Mantri-Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) reflect the Government's commitment to extend renewable energy to the agriculture sector;
- (b) the manner in which the Ministry ensures that the goals of the PM-KUSUM are aligned with India's national objectives for renewable energy and climate change mitigation; and
- (c) the manner in which the PM-KUSUM is setting the stage for integrated agriculture and solar energy production?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF  STATE  FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a)  PM-KUSUM  Scheme  was  launched  by  the  Government  in  March  2019  to  enable  the installation  of  standalone  solar  pumps,  solarization  of  existing  grid-connected  agriculture pumps, and installation of solar power plants on farmer's land.  The details of three components of the scheme are placed at Annexure I.
- (b)  The  PM  KUSUM  helps  reduce  dependence  on  fossil  fuels,  lowers  greenhouse  gas emissions,  and  provides  an  additional  income  stream  for  farmers.  The  scheme  is  playing  a crucial role in advancing India's renewable energy goals and climate change mitigation efforts. Through its three components it is promoting solar energy generation through decentralized grid connected renewable energy power plant, installation of solar pumps to de-dieselise the farm sector, and enabling assured day time power supply to farmers through solarisation of agricultural load on feeder. This provides energy security and also contributes to the country's larger renewable energy targets of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy by 2030. The scheme aims to mitigate carbon emissions of 40 million tons when fully implemented.
- (c)  The  PM  KUSUM  scheme  promotes  integrated  farming  by  providing  solar-powered irrigation  pumps,  solarization  of  agriculture  load  on  feeders,  and  establishing  decentralized solar power plants. These initiatives help farmers access day time assured electricity, lower irrigation costs, and enable the use of solar energy for various farm operations. By allowing farmers to sell surplus power back to the grid, the scheme creates additional revenue streams.

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## Annexure-I referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5103 for 02.04.2025

## Targets, features and incentives under PM-KUSUM Scheme

| Scheme Component                             | Targets and features                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | Incentives structure                                                                                                           |
|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Component 'A'                                | • Target of setting up of 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground/ Stilt Mounted Grid Connected Solar or other Renewable Energy based Power Plants (up to 2 MWeach) by the farmers on their land. • Farmers /Cooperatives /Panchayats / Project developer /Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) / Water User associations (WUA) are eligible. | • PBI@ Rs. 0.40 per unit for five years is provided to DISCOMs (max Rs 33 Lac/year)                                            |
| Component 'B'                                | • Target of installation of 14 lakh standalone off-grid solar water pumps                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | • 30% Central assistance to all other States/UTs (50% to NER/Hilly region/Islands).                                            |
| Component 'C' (Individual Pump Solarization) | • Target of solarization of 35 lakh existing grid-connected agriculture pumps and through feeder level solarization (FLS).                                                                                                                                                                                                            | • 30% Central assistance to all other States/UTs (50% to NER/Hilly region/Islands) for Individual Pump Solarization.           |
| Component 'C' (Feeder Level Solarization)    | • Target of solarization of 35 lakh existing grid-connected agriculture pumps and through feeder level solarization (FLS).                                                                                                                                                                                                            | • Central Financial Assistance of Rs. 1.05 Cr/MW for solarizing agriculture load on the feeder under Feeder Level Solarization |