Agartala, May 11: Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Monday said solar power transformed the farming in villages under PM-KUSUM scheme. He also said the state is leading the Northeast in implementing the scheme.

Nath said, installation of 8,364 pumps has been completed across the state so far, bringing 41,820 kani of land under irrigation and benefiting 8,364 farmers. Work is in progress for an additional 2,531 pumps, which will bring 12,655 kani of land under irrigation and benefit 2,531 more farmers.

The Power Department along with Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA) is implementing the PM-KUSUM scheme.

According to a press release, the Minister today visited the solar-powered agricultural irrigation system under the PM-KUSUM project in Satdubia village of Mohanpur. He also visited the vibrant solar-powered Mohanpur tea garden village.

“The villagers and farmers are smiling after receiving free solar power and irrigation water,” said the Minister.

He informed that under the PM-KUSUM project, the total cost per unit is Rs 3 lakh, out of which Rs 15,000 is contributed by farmers, while the remaining amount is provided by the government.

“So far, a total of 8,364 farmers have benefited from this scheme, and 41,820 kani of land is under irrigation through the project. The boring cost is borne only by the Tripura government, while no other state provides this except Tripura. In the North East, Tripura has bagged the first prize under PM-KUSUM. I have visited and inspected the works, met farmers, and spoken with them. Our target is higher, and work is ongoing,” he said.

The Minister added that for the installation of new solar pumps for irrigation, the target was set at 10,895 pumps, covering 54,475 kani of land under irrigation.