Will Geo-tagging stop subsidy duplication for solar pumps in Madhya Pradesh?

The Madhya Pradesh government has announced that all solar plants installed for farmers under its solar pump scheme will now be geo-tagged. This move aims to prevent duplication of subsidies and misuse of electricity connections.

Under the new rules, farmers will also be allowed to use leftover solar energy for non-farming purposes, such as running flour mills, cold storage units, or battery chargers.

The Department of New and Renewable Energy has issued a notification stating that farmers must contribute margin money to get the solar pumps. For pumps up to 3 horsepower (HP), farmers will pay 5% of the cost. For pumps above 3 HP, they will pay 10%. The scheme will run until March 2028.

The state cabinet approved this policy on January 24, 2025. It falls under the Pradhan Mantri Krishak Mitra Surya Yojana, which is supported by the central government’s Kusum scheme.

In the first phase, only farmers without permanent electricity connections will receive solar pumps. In the next phase, farmers with permanent electric pumps will also be included. The government will use land data and Aadhaar e-KYC to identify eligible farmers.

Each pump will come with a board displaying the scheme’s name and grant details. A QR code will provide complete information to users.

Solar panels usually generate power for about 330 days a year, averaging 8 hours per day. Farming typically requires pumping only for 150 days. The government plans to promote the use of excess energy in other rural activities.

Alongside solar pump installation, the state will also push for drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.

Committees will be formed at both state and district levels to monitor the scheme. The Chief Secretary will head the state committee, and the District Collector will chair the district-level committee.

According to the guidelines:

• For solar pumps up to 3 HP, farmers will pay 5%, the government will give a 30% subsidy, and the rest will come as an agriculture loan.

• For pumps above 3 HP, the farmer must pay 10%, with over 60% of the cost covered by loans.

• For pumps above 7.5 HP, the central subsidy will be capped at the rate fixed for 7.5 HP pumps.

The scheme aims to increase solar adoption in agriculture while improving transparency in subsidy distribution.

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