Solar irrigation bound to transform agriculture sector for good: CEO JAKEDA

SAMBA: A One day awareness camp on contours of PM-KUSUM scheme was today organized for farmers of district Samba by Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) here at Conference Hall, DC Office Complex.
Chairperson District Development Council Keshav Dutt Sharma chaired the event in presence of Vice chairman DDC, Balwan Singh, Chief Executive Officer, JAKEDA, Babila Rakwal and Deputy Commissioner, Samba Anuradha Gupta.
The occasion marked the launch of installation of Solar power Agriculture pumps in the District under “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uthan Mahabhiyaan ( PM-KUSUM) Yojana”.
The DDC members, BDC Chairpersons, Additional District Development Commissioner, Chief Agriculture Officer, Chief horticulture Officer and other officers of agriculture and horticulture departments, PRIs and progressive farmers were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, the CEO JAKEDA said that the Solar backed irrigation mechanism being introduced under the PM-KUSUM scheme is bound to transform the agriculture sector and also enhance the livelihoods of small to marginal farmers.
The scheme launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Government of India envisages distribution of subsidized Solar powered Agricultural pumps. She informed that in the first phase 5000 solar powered pumps shall be installed in J&K out of which 2500 will be installed in the current fiscal. She further informed that solar powered Agriculture pumps in the capacity range of 2 HP to 10 HP shall be installed in J&K UT.
The scheme provides for 50% subsidy from the Central Government, 30% from Government of J&K and only 20% as farmers share with a 05 year warranty.
While addressing the participants, the Deputy Commissioner Samba exhorted upon DDCs BDCs, PRIs and district officers to sensitize the farmers about the scheme and encourage them to reap maximum benefits. She said the changing rainfall patterns have added to farmers’ woes and It is thus critical to look into ways to enhance agricultural production by increasing cropping intensity and employing effective irrigation techniques. “For the first time, farmers can have control over water and electricity supply through solar water pumps (SWP), this new cost efficient technology is bound to empower farmers” added DC samba. The DC also said that PM-KUSUM is a major step towards having Green irrigation.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) project intends to give farmers greater financial security as well as more sustainable water access by generating solar electricity on their farms.
Later, an interactive session was also held in which various technical and non technical queries raised by PRIs, farmers were addressed by technical experts of JAKEDA.

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