Jammu: Chief Executive Officer Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA), Babila Rakwal, today launched a publicity-cum-awareness campaign for installation of solar power agriculture pumps under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) here across the Jammu district.
Among others, the DDC Chairman Jammu, Bharat Bhushan, ADDC Jammu, Ramesh Chander, Joint Director, Agriculture Department A.S.Reen were present on the occasion.
Sr. Scientist & Head Krishi Vigyan Kendra SKUAST, Jammu; Dr. Puneet Chowdhary, President Kissan Morcha, S.Tejinder Singh and several other senior officers, PRIs and farmers attended the launching event.
After launching the awareness campaign, the CEO, JAKEDA said that PM-KUSUM scheme has been launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Gol to uplift farmers in the country.
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. She said that under the scheme, Subsidized Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps in the capacity range of 2 HP to 10 HP shall be installed across the J&K UT.
Under this scheme, 80% subsidy will be provided by the Government and only 20% will be farmer’s share. The scheme shall be implemented in J&K by the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA), Department of Science & Technology.
The farmers were urged to take benefit from this farmer-friendly scheme. She highlighted the advantages of solar pumps over the conventional ones as it would save fossil fuel and electricity and preserve the environment. A small video clip showcasing complete information on the solar water power pumps was also screened for information of the participants.
Speaking on the occasion, Jt. Director Agriculture emphasised that this intervention will certainly reduce the production cost of the crops and facilitate in increasing the farm income of the farmers.
All the speakers emphasised that with the installation of solar pumps the dependence of farmers on electricity, petrol and Diesel would come down considerably and benefit the farmers economically.
Later, an interactive session was also held in which various queries raised by the PRIs, farmers were cleared by technical experts of JAKEDA.
