Ranchi- A farmer from Jharkhand’s Jamtara district has emerged as a success story of the PM-KUSUM Scheme after significantly increasing his income through the use of solar-powered irrigation systems.
Damodar Singh, who once depended heavily on diesel pumps and uncertain rainfall for farming, says his life changed after installing solar pumps under the Central government scheme. The switch not only reduced his farming expenses but also enabled him to cultivate crops throughout the year.
Earlier, irrigation through diesel pumps used to cost him nearly Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 every month. With solar-powered irrigation now available, those costs have virtually disappeared, freeing him from worries related to rising diesel prices and irregular electricity supply.
Damodar said the reliable access to water has helped him expand beyond traditional paddy farming. He now grows vegetables alongside paddy and is able to harvest three crops annually, something that was not possible when he depended solely on rainfall.
Apart from using the solar pump for his own fields, he also supplies irrigation water to nearby farms, which has become an additional source of income. According to him, this has helped him earn nearly Rs 1.5 lakh annually.
The increased income has improved his family’s standard of living, allowing him to build a house and provide better education opportunities for his children.
Speaking about the benefits of the scheme, Damodar said the subsidy and other assistance were provided directly through an online system without any middlemen.
“Thanks to the solar pump provided under the scheme, we can now farm throughout the year. Our livelihood has improved, my family is happy, and my children are studying well,” he said while expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The PM-KUSUM Scheme was launched to provide farmers with reliable energy and water access, reduce dependence on diesel, promote clean energy in agriculture, and improve farmers’ incomes.
Over the years, the initiative has helped many farmers become self-reliant in irrigation while ensuring direct transfer of subsidies into bank accounts through digital payment systems.
With inputs from IANS