India is preparing to take its successful solar pump scheme beyond its borders. Union Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that the country will promote both the PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar programmes across African and island nations through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) platform.
These programmes are designed to make agriculture more sustainable by helping farmers shift from diesel-based pumps to solar-powered systems.
The ₹34,000-crore PM-KUSUM scheme aims to boost solar energy use in agriculture by setting up 100 GW of solar plants on farmer-owned land, installing 14 lakh solar pumps, and solarising 35 lakh grid-connected agricultural pumps.
The scheme was launched in 2019 with a target of adding 308 GW of solar power by 2022. Later, the goal was increased to 348 GW with a new deadline of March 2026. Although it has been delayed, good progress has been made; about 70% of the standalone solar pumps have already been installed.
MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said the government may extend the scheme beyond 2026 to achieve its goals. He noted that while grid-connected projects are taking time, the standalone pump installations have been a clear success.
ISA Director General Ashish Khanna said India’s achievements with solar pumps have generated strong interest among African nations. With only 4% of Africa’s arable land currently irrigated, many countries import about $400 billion worth of food each year despite having vast farmland.
Khanna said that India’s solar pump model could help African countries grow more of their own food and rely less on imports.
Source
0 Comments