Jalna, August 20: The central government’s “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan” (PM-KUSUM) scheme has proven to be a boon for farmers in rural areas. With the help of solar pumps, agricultural productivity has increased, allowing farmers to mitigate losses caused by insufficient rainfall and power outages.
Jalna district in Maharashtra is known for its struggles with drought. This has made farmers hesitant to adopt new farming techniques, as efficient water usage is challenging. Additionally, due to severe daytime electricity shortages, farmers often had to irrigate their fields at night, a task that was both difficult and inconvenient.
The PM-KUSUM scheme has addressed these issues effectively. It has reduced the labor burden on farmers and simplified agricultural management.
Bharat Shinde, a farmer from Antarwala village, purchased a 3-kilowatt solar pump under the PM-KUSUM scheme. Planning to cultivate Sharifa and sweet lime (mosambi) in this drought-prone area, Shinde shared with a news agency that the solar pump has made it possible to irrigate crops during the day, even amid power cuts, eliminating the need for nighttime trips to the fields.
Shinde emphasized that farming has become much easier due to this technology. He encouraged other farmers to take advantage of the scheme, as it allows them to sleep peacefully at night without the stress of power outages.
He reported a 15 to 20 percent increase in crop yield, attributing this improvement to the solar pump’s ability to protect against the adverse effects of drought and power cuts.
Equipped with modern technology, the solar pump can be operated via a mobile phone, allowing farmers to turn it on and off remotely.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government for the benefits of the KUSUM solar scheme, Shinde noted that the ease of water management has eliminated the need for urgent trips to the fields.
The technology-driven KUSUM solar scheme is transforming the lives of farmers in rural areas. It is becoming increasingly accessible for more farmers to benefit from this initiative and experiment with innovative farming methods.
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