The Tamil Nadu (TN) government has announced plans to distribute 2,000 solar pumps with 80 per cent subsidy to farmers during 2013-14. As part of the Rs 100 crore programme, the Agriculture Department will distribute the 2,000 agriculture pump sets of 5hp fitted with solar tracking device, announced the chief minister J. Jayalalithaa in the Assembly today.
The government will also distribute 500 solar powered irrigation pump sets in the Cauvery delta districts at subsidised rates.
A report by PTI said: “Each unit is estimated to cost about Rs 5 lakh and the State Government will provide 80 per cent subsidy – Rs 4 lakh. The farmers will bring in the balance for which they can obtain loans from cooperative banks.”
The programme will also be linked to support the micro-irrigation facilities for various crops. It has been launched with an aim to address the challenge of water shortage and power constraints. Farmers can use these irrigation pump sets in bore wells, deep bore wells, open wells and surface water bodies.
The Punjab government also recently announced 40 per cent subsidy to incentivise farmers for using solar pumps for irrigation. The state government also sanctioned Rs 5 crore for providing this subsidy to farmers.
