The PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan) Yojana has emerged as a critical lifeline for farmers in Madhya Pradesh's Bundelkhand region, where unreliable irrigation and high energy costs have historically undermined agricultural productivity. In Damoh district's Tendukheda block, solar pumps installed under the scheme are delivering uninterrupted irrigation, slashing input costs, and meaningfully improving farmer incomes.

Farmers Share Ground-Level Impact

Farmers like Pancham Singh Lodhi and Munna Yadav from Bitli village have become emblematic of the scheme's reach. Pancham Singh recalled waking up at odd hours to irrigate his fields, battling frequent power outages and the mounting cost of diesel pumps. Any delay in irrigation risked crop loss, making farming increasingly unviable.

His situation changed after he applied under the Pradhan Mantri Solar Pump Scheme. With a subsidy covering nearly 90 per cent of the installation cost, he paid approximately ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 out of pocket. The solar pump now provides uninterrupted daytime irrigation, boosting yields while eliminating diesel and electricity expenditure entirely.

Munna Yadav shared a similar account, noting that his monthly electricity bills once reached ₹10,000. That expense has now been eliminated. He added that the experience has motivated him to spread awareness of the scheme among neighbouring farmers.

How the Scheme Works

Under the scheme's first phase in the district, solar systems will be installed in 2,000 non-BPL households and 10,000 BPL households. Notably, BPL households will receive solar panels free of cost through state government support, making the programme accessible to the most economically vulnerable farming families.

Officials explained that the initiative is designed to reduce dependence on conventional energy sources, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and empower small and marginal farmers to achieve self-reliance.

Why Bundelkhand Needed This Intervention

The Bundelkhand region has long grappled with erratic rainfall, depleted groundwater, and inadequate power supply — a combination that has historically pushed farmers into debt cycles. Diesel-powered irrigation, while a stopgap, proved expensive and unreliable. The shift to solar-powered pumps directly addresses these structural vulnerabilities.

This comes amid a broader national push under PM-KUSUM to solarise agricultural pump sets across India, with the Union government targeting the installation of 35 lakh solar pumps nationwide under the scheme's various components.

The Road Ahead

With the first phase of installations underway in Damoh, officials indicate that the programme is expected to expand further across the district. As more farmers transition to solar irrigation, the cumulative impact on agricultural output, input costs, and rural incomes in Bundelkhand is expected to grow. The scheme's success in villages like Bitli could serve as a replicable model for other water-stressed regions across the state.