The PM-KUSUM scheme is helping farmers become ‘Urjadata’ by promoting the use of solar energy, enhancing farm incomes and supporting sustainable agriculture. The scheme has benefited more than 20 lakh farmers across the country, Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply on Tuesday.
Under Component A of PM-KUSUM, farmers can lease their land for the installation of solar power plants and earn up to ₹80,000 per hectare per year. For projects commissioned under this component, the median average income works out to around Rs 4.5 lakh per megawatt per month, providing a stable supplementary source of revenue.
Component B focuses on replacing diesel pumps with solar pumps. For a typical 5 HP pump consuming about 4.6 litres of diesel per day, farmers can save at least ₹60,000 annually on fuel costs, with the breakeven period estimated at less than one year. This shift also reduces dependence on fossil fuels and lowers irrigation costs.
Under Component C, farmers can earn around ₹25,000 per acre per year by leasing land for solar projects, further strengthening rural incomes.
The PM-KUSUM scheme follows a demand-driven approach, with capacities and fund releases linked to demand and progress reported by states and Union Territories, in line with scheme guidelines. The initiative aims to boost farmer incomes while advancing India’s renewable energy and sustainability goals.
