Solar scheme aims to raise farmers’ income by 3 times

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has approved a scheme for “solar farming” which would help farmers earn at least three times more than their current income, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday.

Announcing the “Mukhyanmantri Kisan Aay Badhotri Solar Yojna”, the chief minister said the proposal was approved by the Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday. Under the scheme, onethird surface area of an agriculture land can be used for installation of solar panels.

Hindustan Times was the first to report about the Delhi government’s solar farming scheme on March 21, which later also became a part of the Aam Aadmi Party government’s “Green Budget”. According to the 2011 census, the city has 20,000 farmers and 30,000 hectare of land is under agricultural application. The government is expecting to install solar capacity of about 9,000 MW if the scheme is utilised by a majority of farmers.

“These solar panels would be installed in such a way that agricultural activity would not be affected. The panels will be at a height of 3.5m enabling movement of tractors. Farmers will not have to spend a single penny for getting the installed solar panels. They wouldn’t require to also change ownership of land,” Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal added that farmers could start getting the extra income from solar farming by March next year. “Tenders will soon be floated to finalise the vendors. Around five companies have shown interest. The scheme will be rolled out in 8-9 months,” he said.

To apply for the scheme, farmers will have to submit an application at the divisional commissioner’s office from where the process will begin.

The government said the scheme would provide a source of additional income for farmers. “The earning will start from ₹1 lakh per year per acre with an annual increment at 6% per acre to reach ₹4.04 lakh per year per acre of land in 25th year. The contract of the private vendor who would install and maintain the solar panels will be of 25 years,” the chief minister said.

As per government data, the estimated annual income of farmers in Delhi currently is ₹20,000 to 30,000 per acre per year.

Kejriwal also said various departments of the Delhi government will buy electricity generated from the solar farming.

At present, departments buy electricity for ₹9 per unit, but with this scheme, departments will buy electricity for ₹4 per unit due to which government is looking to save ₹400 to ₹500 crore every year, he said.