Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday launched the Soura Jalanidhi scheme that aims to increase use of solar energy for helping farmers in irrigating their land.
'Soura Jalanidhi', is a dug well based solar pump irrigation system in convergence mode.
Under the scheme, 5,000 solar pumps will be given to Odisha farmers at a subsidy of 90 per cent to irrigate 2,500 acres of land.
The chief minister also launched the web portal of this scheme on the occasion. The event was attended by 1,000 farmers from 30 districts through video conference.
In the first phase, the facility will be available for farmers where electicity is not avaialable for operating pump sets.
The solar pumps will be given to the beneficiary farmers at a subsidy of 90 per cent. A total of Rs 27 crore will be spent for the programme, an official said.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said, "I am extremely happy to launch Soura Jalanidhi scheme for our farmers. I hope they will reap the benefits of this scheme and script success stories."
Patnaik said the new scheme will lessen the cost burden of the farmers.
"They will get more irrigation facility, produce more and also be able to increase farm incomes," he said.
Patnaik also distributed four go-ahead orders for installation of solar pump to the farmers.
Farmers having valid farmer-id, belonging to small and marginal categories having minimum 0.5 acre cultivable land holding and a dug well will be covered under the programme.
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