Kusum Scheme – Everything you need to know about it

Index:

1. Kusum Scheme Components
2. Kusum Scheme Implementation
3. Kusum Scheme Benefits
4. Kusum Scheme Online Application Procedure
5. Subsidy for Farmers

1. Kusum Scheme Components

The Kusum Scheme consists of three components:

1. Component A: 10,000 MW of the Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants of an individual plant size of up to 2 MW. Under the Component, renewable energy-based power plants or REPP of the capacity of 500 kW to 2 MW have to be set up by individual farmers or group of farmers or cooperatives or panchayat or Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) or Water User associations (WUA) on barren or any fallow land. The power plants can be installed on the cultivable land on stilts where crops can be grown below solar panels. Renewable energy power project has to be installed within the five km radius of the sub-stations to avoid the high cost of sub-transmission lines plus to reduce the transmission losses. The power generated has to be purchased by the local DISCOM at a pre-fixed tariff. v
2. Component B: Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps of an individual pump capacity of up to 7.5 HP. Under this Component, individual farmers will be supported to install standalone solar Agriculture pumps of capacity up to 7.5 HP for replacement of existing diesel Agriculture pumps/irrigation systems in off-grid areas, where grid supply is not available. Pumps of capacity higher than 7.5 HP can also be installed. However, financial support will be limited to 7.5 HP capacity.
3. Component C: Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP. Under this Component, individual farmers having a grid-connected agriculture pump will be supported to solarise pumps. The farmer will be able to use the generated solar power to meet the irrigation needs, and the excess solar power will be sold to DISCOMs at a pre-fixed tariff.

2. Kusum Scheme Implementation

State Nodal Agencies (SNAs) of MNRE will coordinate with States/UTs, Discoms, and farmers for implementation of the Scheme.

Components A and C of the Scheme will be implemented in Pilot mode till 2019-20. Component B, which is an ongoing sub-program, will be implemented in entirety without going through pilot mode.

The capacities to be implemented under pilot mode for the Components A and C are as follows:

• Component A: Commissioning of 1000 MW capacity of ground/ stilt mounted solar or other renewable energy source based power projects
• Component C: Solarization of 1,00,000 grid-connected agriculture pumps

On successful implementation of a pilot run of Components A and C of the Kusum Scheme, these components would be scaled-up, after getting necessary approval.

3. Kusum Scheme Benefits

The Kusum Scheme aims to open a stable and continuous source of income for the rural landowners for a period of 25 years by utilization of their dry or uncultivable land. Further, in case cultivated fields are chosen for setting up solar power projects, the farmers could continue to grow crops as the solar panels are to be set up above a minimum height.

The proposed Scheme would ensure that sufficient local solar/ other renewable energy-based power is available for feeding rural load centers and agriculture pump-set loads, which require power mostly during the day time. As these power plants will be located closer to the agriculture loads or to electrical substations in a decentralized manner, it will result in reduced Transmission losses for STUs and Discoms. Moreover, the Scheme will also help the Discoms to achieve the RPO target.

The solar pumps will save the expenditure incurred on diesel for running diesel pump and provide the farmers with a reliable source of irrigation through the solar pump apart from preventing harmful pollution from running diesel pump. In light of the long waiting list for electric grid connection, this Scheme will benefit 17.5 lakh farmers over a period of four years, without adding to the grid load.

4 Kusum Scheme Online Application Procedure

The farmers can also apply for Kusum Scheme through the below-mentioned procedure:

A. Access the Portal:

Step 1:  The farmers have to visit the official website of Kusum Yojana.

B. Login to the Portal:

Step 2: Now, the user can log in with a reference number on the home page of the scheme portal.

Step 3: After the user has logged in to this portal, he or she can fill up the online application form to take Kusum solar pump.

C. Apply for the Scheme:

Step 4: The farmer needs to click on the “Apply” button that is given on the home page.

D. Registration Form:

Step 5: After clicking the apply button, the user or the farmer will be taken to the next page that is the registration page.

Step 6: The application form for this Kusum Scheme will be displayed on the screen after this.

E. Fill in Right Credentials:

Step 7: Now, the user needs to enter all the requested details in the given application form.

Step 8: Enter the details such as farmers’ names, mobile numbers, e-mail addresses, and the other information.

F. Submit Application Form:

Step 9: After completing all the steps, the farmer has to click on the submit button to complete the registration process for the Scheme.

G. Acknowledgment Number:

Step 10: After submitting the application form, the farmer will receive a message stating that he or she has been “Successfully Registered.”

5. Subsidy for Farmers

The cost distribution for setting up the pumps and the tube-wells are as follows:

1 As provided by the Central Government: 60% of the total cost of the Subsidy.

2 As provided by the banks: 30% of the total cost as the Loans to Farmers.