How UP farmers are swapping diesel pumps for solar power

Under PM-KUSUM, Uttar Pradesh farmers can access subsidised solar pumps and solarise existing connections. The scheme aims to cut diesel use, lower irrigation costs and expand decentralised solar power.UP has emerged as one of the larger beneficiaries of the standalone solar pump component.Farmers in Uttar Pradesh can get up to 90 per cent subsidy on solar irrigation pumps, helping reduce diesel dependence and, in some cases, allowing them to sell surplus power back to the grid under the PM-KUSUM scheme.Diesel pumps have long been a costly and polluting part of irrigation in large parts of rural India. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan, or PM-KUSUM, is aimed at changing that by making solar-powered irrigation more accessible to farmers.The scheme combines subsidies for individual solar pumps with support for decentralised solar power generation and the solarisation of existing grid-connected agricultural pumps.3 COMPONENTS OF PM-KUSUMPM-KUSUM is divided into three components, each targeting a different part of the agricultural power system. Component A focusses on decentralised solar power plants. These are small plants with a capacity of 500 kW to 2 MW that can be installed on barren or agricultural land. Farmers can use these plants to generate electricity and sell the power to distribution companies, or DISCOMs.Component B covers standalone, off-grid solar agriculture pumps of up to 7.5 HP. These are particularly relevant in areas where farmers do not have access to a reliable grid connection. Component C focuses on solarising existing grid-connected agricultural pumps of up to 7.5 HP. This includes solarisation at the feeder level, allowing agricultural electricity demand to be met through solar power.Together, the three components are designed to expand solar generation while reducing farmers' dependence on conventional electricity and diesel-powered irrigation.Nationally, the scheme had targets of 10,000 MW under Component A, 14 lakh standalone solar pumps under Component B and 35 lakh solarised grid-connected pumps under Component C.The Centre allocated Rs 34,422 crore in central financial support for the programme, with the original target date set for March 2026.HOW THE SUBSIDY WORKS IN UPPM-KUSUM is administered by the UP New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) in coordination with the four regional distribution companies of the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL).The standard subsidy structure combines support from the Centre and the state government.The Central Financial Assistance (CFA) accounts for 30 per cent of the cost, while the state government provides at least another 30 per cent.The remaining amount is to be paid by the farmer. Up to 30 per cent of this share can be financed through a bank loan, meaning the farmer may need to provide only 10 per cent of the total cost upfront.For general and OBC-category farmers in Uttar Pradesh, the combined subsidy typically comes to 60 per cent.The support is higher for certain categories. For Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe farmers, as well as farmers in priority districts of Bundelkhand, the subsidy can go up to 90 per cent.That higher subsidy is significant because the upfront cost of installing a solar irrigation pump can otherwise be a barrier for small farmers.UP'S SOLAR POWER NUMBERSUttar Pradesh has already emerged as one of the larger beneficiaries of the standalone solar pump component.According to a Lok Sabha reply from the Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Uttar Pradesh had installed 53,182 standalone solar pumps under Component B.That placed the state third nationally in terms of installed standalone pumps.Maharashtra led with 1,97,863 pumps, followed by Haryana with 1,36,572. Uttar Pradesh's 53,182 installations put it next on the list.The numbers show that solar irrigation is no longer limited to a handful of pilot projects. Thousands of farmers in Uttar Pradesh are already using standalone solar pumps for irrigation.WHAT SOLARISATION CHANGES FOR FARMERSFor farmers who depend on diesel pumps, shifting to solar can directly reduce one of the recurring costs of irrigation: fuel.Solar pumps do not require diesel to operate, meaning farmers can reduce their exposure to fluctuations in diesel prices while also cutting emissions associated with pumping water.For farmers with grid-connected pumps, Component C offers another possibility. Solarising the pump can allow agricultural electricity consumption to be met through solar generation.Component A goes a step further by turning farmers or landowners into potential power producers. Under the component, decentralised solar plants can generate electricity that is sold to DISCOMs.This means PM-KUSUM is not simply an irrigation scheme. It is also an attempt to integrate agriculture with India's expanding renewable-energy infrastructure.PUSH TOWARDS CLEANER FARM PUSHThe basic challenge PM-KUSUM seeks to address is straightforward: farmers need reliable and affordable power to irrigate their fields, while diesel and conventional electricity can impose significant costs on both farmers and the wider energy system.Solar power offers an alternative, but the initial cost of installing a solar pump can be difficult for individual farmers to bear.The subsidy structure is therefore central to the scheme. By combining central and state support, the government aims to bring down the farmer's upfront contribution, with the subsidy reaching as high as 90% for eligible farmers and locations in Uttar Pradesh.The progress in Uttar Pradesh suggests that the model is gaining ground. With more than 53,000 standalone pumps installed under Component B, the state has become one of the country's leading adopters of solar irrigation.The larger question is whether the expansion can move beyond individual pumps and bring more agricultural feeders, farms and decentralised power plants into the solar ecosystem.For farmers, however, the immediate proposition is simpler: replace a recurring diesel or electricity expense with the sun as the source of power — with government support helping make that transition affordable.- EndsPublished By: Karishma Saurabh KalitaPublished On: Sep 11, 2026 12:30 IST