Tripura leads Northeast in PM-KUSUM: 8,364 solar pumps installed for farmers
Synopsis
Tripura has claimed the top spot in the Northeast under the Centre's PM-KUSUM scheme, with 8,364 solar irrigation pumps already installed and 2,531 more underway. Farmers pay just ₹15,000 of a ₹3 lakh unit cost — with the Tripura government absorbing the rest, a model the minister says no other state replicates.
Key Takeaways
Tripura has installed 8,364 solar-powered irrigation pumps under PM-KUSUM , ranking first in the Northeast .
The installations have brought 41,820 kani of agricultural land under irrigation, directly benefiting 8,364 farmers .
Work on 2,531 additional pumps is underway, targeting 12,655 more kani of farmland.
Each solar pump unit costs around ₹3 lakh ; farmers contribute only ₹15,000 , with the Tripura government bearing the remaining cost.
The state's original target under the scheme is 10,895 pumps , covering 54,475 kani of agricultural land.
Tripura has emerged as the top-performing state in the Northeast under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme, with 8,364 solar-powered irrigation pumps successfully installed across the state, benefiting an equal number of farmers. The installations, carried out by the Power Department in collaboration with the Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA), have brought 41,820 kani of agricultural land under irrigation through renewable energy.
Key Developments on the Ground
Tripura Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Monday visited the solar-powered agricultural irrigation system at Satdubia village in Mohanpur, under West Tripura district, and interacted with local farmers. He also toured a solar-powered tea garden village in the same block. The minister confirmed that work on an additional 2,531 solar pumps is currently in progress and is expected to bring another 12,655 kani of farmland under irrigation, benefiting 2,531 more farmers.
What the Government Said
Point of View
000 contribution is an unusually generous subsidy structure. Whether this is fiscally sustainable as the programme scales to its 10,895-pump target is a question worth asking. The Northeast has historically lagged in agricultural infrastructure investment, making Tripura's first-place ranking a genuine policy signal — but the real test will be whether installed pumps translate into measurable yield and income gains for the farmers they were designed to serve.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM-KUSUM scheme and how does it work in Tripura?
PM-KUSUM, or Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan, is a central government scheme that provides solar-powered irrigation pumps to farmers. In Tripura, each unit costs around ₹3 lakh, of which farmers pay only ₹15,000 and the state government covers the rest — a model the state claims is unique among Indian states.
How many farmers have benefited from PM-KUSUM in Tripura so far?
As of May 2025, 8,364 farmers in Tripura have directly benefited from the PM-KUSUM scheme, with their land brought under solar-powered irrigation. Another 2,531 farmers are expected to benefit once ongoing installations are completed.
Why has Tripura ranked first in the Northeast under PM-KUSUM?
Tripura has secured the top position in the Northeast under PM-KUSUM due to the scale and pace of its installations — 8,364 pumps already commissioned — and its state-funded subsidy model. Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath confirmed the ranking during a field visit to Mohanpur in West Tripura district.
What is Tripura's total target under the PM-KUSUM scheme?
Tripura's target under PM-KUSUM is to install 10,895 solar irrigation pumps, which would bring 54,475 kani of agricultural land under irrigation. With 8,364 pumps installed and 2,531 in progress, the state is close to achieving that goal.
How much agricultural land has been brought under irrigation through PM-KUSUM in Tripura?
A total of 41,820 kani of agricultural land has already been brought under solar-powered irrigation through PM-KUSUM in Tripura. An additional 12,655 kani is expected to be covered once the remaining 2,531 pump installations are completed.
