Anand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Mujkuva Solar Energy Cooperative Group of 11 farmers during his public function at Mogar in Central Gujarat tomorrow.

With this, a group of 11 farmers in Mujkuva will be able to sell surplus electricity to power company after utilization at farms. They shall become energy supplier and earn income.

In connection with Prime Minister’s target to double the income of farmers by year 2022, the government of Gujarat has launched Suryashakti Kisan Yojana(Sky) in addition to cntral government’s Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahaabhiyan(KUSUM). Through Sky scheme, farmers will be able to sell surplus solar energy generated in farms to grid. In pilot project of Sky, the State government has covered 137 feeders. Cost of pilot project is estimated at Rs 900 crore.

According to Mujkuva Solar Energy Cooperative Group’s secretary labhu Patel, the solar project at farm-side became possible through help of NDDB and IWMI.

Patel said there are 11 farmers in their cooperative, of whom three have installed 10 HP pumps in farms while 8 have installed 15 HP pumps. To sell surplus power 25-year pact has been signed at Rs 3.24 per unit. NDDB has contributed 50% cost for solar pumps.

Patel said, farmers don’t need to pay Rs 3,000 power bill every month. They are going to earn around Rs 6,000 additionally through clean and green energy.

Dhundi village in Thasra taluka of Kheda district was first such village to use solar power for farming.

DeshGujarat