New Delhi, March 10 The government is likely to launch a new version of the PM KUSUM scheme, which would enable farmers to generate renewable electricity while continuing farming on the same land, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday.
Launched in 2019 with an outlay of Rs 34,422 crore, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) aims to encourage the use of renewable energy in the agriculture sector and help farmers reduce irrigation costs by adding 34,800 MW of solar capacity by March 2026.
Under the scheme, more than 10 lakh standalone solar agricultural pumps have been installed, and over 13 lakh grid-connected agricultural pumps have been solarised across the country.
"The deadline for the scheme is approaching. I have requested the Prime Minister for PM KUSUM 2.0," Joshi, the Minister for New and Renewable Energy, said at the 4th National Agro-RE Summit in the national capital.
The second version is expected to be introduced with higher targets and funding, the minister told
