Solar for Farmers – How PM-KUSUM is Powering Agriculture with Clean Energy
Solar for Farmers — PM-KUSUM
PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) is a flagship scheme to secure farmers' energy needs, reduce irrigation costs, and increase farmers’ incomes through solar energy.
India's agricultural sector is the backbone of the country, but it faces serious challenges—unreliable electricity, high diesel costs, and dependence on monsoon rains. PM-KUSUM helps farmers adopt solar energy to irrigate fields and earn extra income by selling surplus power.
What is PM-KUSUM?
PM-KUSUM supports uptake of solar power in agriculture through three main components:
- Solar Pumps (Standalone): Install solar pumps to irrigate fields without grid or diesel dependency.
- Solarization of Grid-Connected Pumps: Convert existing electric pump sets to solar-assisted systems and allow sale of surplus to the grid.
- Small Solar Power Plants: Farmers or farmer groups can set up plants (up to 2 MW) on their land to generate additional income.
Benefits for Farmers
- Lower irrigation costs — no recurring diesel or large electricity bills.
- New income stream — sell surplus power to the grid (where permitted).
- Reliable irrigation — reduces dependence on erratic grid supply and diesel availability.
- Sustainability — reduces carbon footprint and supports long-term resilience.
Government Support
Farmers receive substantial financial support through central and state subsidies. For remaining costs, banks and institutions offer loans to make adoption affordable. (Eligibility and subsidy levels vary by state and scheme round.)
How SolSetu helps
SolSetu connects farmers with verified solar vendors who understand PM-KUSUM guidelines. We help with:
- Eligibility checks and documentation guidance
- Shortlisting and comparing vendor quotes
- Coordination for installation & commissioning
- After-sales support and warranty follow-up
If you're a farmer or a vendor wanting to work on PM-KUSUM projects, visit SolSetu or contact our team for a quick consultation.
Solar Success Story — Share & Inspire
Vendors: your installations change lives. Every pump you solarize saves a farmer money and increases crop resilience. Help us spread that impact — when you share real success stories, you:
- Build credibility and trust with prospective customers
- Showcase technical skills and post-installation support
- Attract more leads through demonstrated results
Farmers: if your solar pump or power plant helped reduce bills, improve yield, or generated new income — tell the story. Your experience helps other farmers decide and helps vendors grow.
Add your solar success story (Share photos, brief description, location & vendor name)
Quick FAQs
- Q: Can farmers sell surplus power?
A: Yes — where the state policy & local DISCOM rules allow grid injection and purchase agreements. - Q: Are subsidies available?
A: Yes — subsidy amounts differ by component and state; SolSetu can help you check specific eligibility.
🌱 Empowering farmers with solar energy, one pump at a time.
If you are a vendor and would like SolSetu to feature your completed projects and case-studies, please submit your story — we'll promote select success stories on our blog and social channels.
