Chief Executive Officer, JAKEDA, Babila Rakwal in presence of Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur Indu Kanwal Chib launched publicity cum awareness programme for installation of Solar power Agriculture pumps under “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uthan Mahabhiyaan ( PM-KUSUM) Yojana” in the District.
The programme was attended by DDC Chairperson, Udhampur Lal Chand, BDC Chairpersons, DDCs, Additional District Development Commissioner, Chief Planning Officer, Chief Agriculture Officer, Chief horticulture Officer and other officers of agriculture and horticulture departments, PRIs and progressive farmers.
After launching the awareness campaign, the CEO JAKEDA, said that the PM-KUSUM scheme has been launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Government of India for upliftment of farmers in the country. 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 added that in view of the topography and irrigation challenges in the District, a UT level campaign has been started in Udhampur to provide maximum benefit to the farmers of the district from this beneficiary oriented scheme. She further informed that under the scheme, subsidized solar powered Agriculture pumps in the capacity range of 2 HP to 10 HP shall be installed in J&k UT.
The scheme provides 50% subsidy from the Central Government, 30% from Government of J&K and only 20% as farmers share. The USP of this scheme is the 5 year warranty of solar pumps. The scheme shall be implemented in J&K by the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA), Department of Science and Technology.
While addressing the participants, the DC asked the BDCs, DDCs and PRIs to sensitize the farmers about the scheme and encourage them to take the benefits of such farmer friendly schemes. She highlighted the advantage of solar pumps over the conventional ones which would save fossil fuel and electricity apart from preserving the environment. For effective implementation of the scheme on ground, concerned departments were asked for appointment of nodal officers. She further asked the concerned to constitute a core group of trainers either at the DC office, Agriculture and Horticulture office for general awareness among the public. She urged the farmers to submit their applications to the concerned committee headed by the Chief Agriculture Officer.
The DC said that with the installation of solar pumps farmers’ dependence on electricity, petrol and diesel would come down which will be economically beneficial for them.
Meanwhile, an interactive session was held during which several queries of farmers and PRIs were responded to by the technical team of JAKEDA.
