With an aim to encourage agriculture sector in the State ‘Mukhyamantri Solar Pump Scheme’ has been approved and use of solar pump would be help in the growth of the sector. The scheme would be implemented on priority in the remote areas.
Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Harsh Singh told mediapersons that the tender process for the solar pumps would commence in few days and during rainy season the process would be completed. By October, the pumps’ installation would commence, he added.
To encourage the use of solar pumps subsidy upto 90 per cent would be provided to the farmers. Under the scheme till 3 HP pump the beneficiary have to contribute only 10 per cent and for more than 3 HP pump the contribution of the beneficiary would be 15 per cent.
For 5 HP and more than 5 HP pumps state subsidy and fixed limited central fund would be applicable.
In the scheme for pumps till 3 HP, direct current (DC) pumps would be used and for more than 3 hp motors AC and DC pumps would be used. The AC and DC pumps would be provided at the same rates to the beneficiaries.
The scheme will benefit farmers and would increase the agriculture yield making it a profitable business. Solar pump system would come with a warranty of five years and along with the warranty maintenance would be included.
The solar panels of the solar pumps are capable of producing power of 330 days and 8 hours daily while for the agriculture pumping power would be required for around 100-120 days and for the remaining days the power could be used for lighting, battery charging, micro grid and others.
For the implementation of the scheme Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam would collaborate with Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development Department. The forms for solar pumps are available on the web portal of the departments.