Gandhinagar: Under Kisan Suryoday Yojana (KSY), 17,018 villages, that is 98.66 percent of the villages in the state of Gujarat, are now receiving electricity during daytime hours. Under this scheme, 19.69 lakh farmers in Gujarat are benefiting from daytime power supply, the state government said in a press release.

Speaking about Gujarat’s success in providing electricity to farmers during daytime hours, the Chief Minister said, “Due to the agriculture-friendly policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his sensitivity towards farmers, nearly 98 percent of the farmers in the state are now receiving electricity during the day. Those who are yet to be covered will also start receiving daytime electricity by March 2026, and this mission will be completed. This was a very significant decision taken by the Honourable Prime Minister, and the fact that we have been able to fulfil it is a matter of joy for all of us. With farmers receiving adequate water and electricity, the entire landscape of the state’s agricultural sector has been completely transformed, leading to greater prosperity for farmers.”

Kisan Suryoday Yojana Ensures Daytime Power Supply to Farmers with Maximum Utilisation of Daylight Hours

This scheme was implemented in 2020 with the objective of providing electricity to farmers in two slots between 5:00 am and 9:00 pm: the first slot from 5:00 am to 1:00 pm and the second from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm. However, after the implementation of the scheme, it was found necessary to make the power supply schedule for the agriculture sector more efficient in alignment with daylight hours, which led to the introduction of the single-shift concept. Under this concept, electricity for agricultural purposes is provided to farmers during daylight hours, particularly from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. By integrating solar energy in this manner, the load on the power grid during peak demand hours is reduced, ensuring a more sustainable and reliable electricity supply for agriculture.

At present, under this scheme, 17,018 villages, that is 98.66 percent of the villages in the state, are being provided electricity during daytime hours, and 98 percent of the state’s substations have been shifted to daytime operations. The work of shifting the remaining 45 rotational substations to cover the remaining 231 villages under the scheme is currently in progress. Notably, under this initiative, the state government has incurred a total expenditure of ₹5,353.62 crore for establishing 40 new substations, laying 4,640.73 circuit kilometres (CKM) of transmission lines, and strengthening the distribution network through 3,927.72 circuit kilometres (CKM) of MVCC works.

Plan Formulated to Establish New Substations and Strengthen Transmission Network in 2026–27

In 2026–27, to ensure the supply of agricultural electricity during daytime hours, GETCO has planned to set up approximately five substations and strengthen around 1,100 circuit kilometres (CKM) of the transmission network, with an estimated expenditure of ₹1,000 crore. Additionally, the estimated cost for laying AB cables/MVCC for DISCOMs in the year 2026–27 is ₹375 crore.

“Daytime power has eliminated the fear of wild animals and saved significant time” – Beneficiary of the Kisan Suryoday Yojana

Farmer Jayesh Patel of Kankrol village in Himmatnagar taluka, who also serves as Chairman of the Himmatnagar APMC, shared his experience, stating, “Earlier, farmers used to receive electricity at night, which made it difficult to irrigate fields during nighttime and led to excessive water wastage, along with the constant fear of wild animals. However, under this scheme, we have been receiving electricity during the day for the past two years, which has resolved all these problems. Farmers can now irrigate their fields at the right time and in the right quantity, resulting in significant savings of time. On behalf of all the farmers of Himmatnagar taluka, I express my gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.”

Notably, with the implementation of this scheme, farmers are receiving electricity during daytime hours, enabling them to carry out irrigation at the appropriate time and improve crop productivity, thereby contributing to their economic prosperity. With the continuous strengthening of transmission infrastructure, the state government will continue the phased implementation of the Kisan Suryoday Yojana, ensuring a reliable and sustainable daytime power supply for farmers. DeshGujarat