Madhya Pradesh to Provide Solar Irrigation Pumps to 40,000 Farmers, Reduce Power Subsidy Burden

The Madhya Pradesh government will supply solar irrigation pumps to 40,000 farmers across the State within the next four years. This was announced by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav during a press conference marking the completion of the first year of his government.

This initiative is part of the government’s focus on sustainability, aiming to reduce farmers' dependence on the grid and address issues such as power outages during peak seasons.

CM Yadav further explained that solar irrigation pumps will enable farmers to access irrigation during daylight hours, eliminating the inconvenience of receiving power during odd hours at night.

Additionally, the State government plans to extend this solar initiative to households in urban areas, which would further reduce the subsidy burden on the government. Currently, the State spends approximately INR  10,000 crore annually on power subsidies for urban areas, with a total subsidy expenditure of more than INR 25,000 crore each year. CM Yadav stated that once farmers and households begin using solar pumps, the government can reallocate these funds to other sectors.

Highlighting the State’s fiscal progress, CM Yadav shared his goal of doubling Madhya Pradesh’s annual budget within five years. He noted that several measures have already been taken to achieve this target, with various departments exceeding their revenue collection compared to previous years.

The State’s budget for the year 2024-25 stands at INR 3,65,067 crore, and by the time CM Yadav completes his tenure in November 2028, the government aims to reach a budget size of around INR  8,000 crore.