Agricultural Modernisation: Nearly 12 Lakh PM-KUSUM Solar Pumps and 10,000 FPOs

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 November 2026 addressed the Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference, organised by a media group, in the presence of agricultural scientists, agri-entrepreneurs and farmers from across the country. The Prime Minister said the conference was taking place just after Deepavali and during the ongoing Chhath Mahaparv, which is rooted in agrarian life, and noted that major Indian festivals such as Bihu, Pongal, Onam, Baisakhi, Sarhul and Pola are tied to farming. He said agriculture is the culture, tradition and foundation of social life, and that building a Viksit Bharat is not possible without developing agriculture, making farming smarter and empowering the farmer.

The Prime Minister cited a World Bank study showing that 50 crore Indians escaped poverty in 12 to 13 years, with a sharp decline in rural poverty among small farmers and farm labourers, and said this period coincided with India's agriculture sector achieving an average growth rate above 4 percent for the first decade since independence. He reported that annual agricultural exports now exceed 4 lakh crore rupees, and that India ranks first globally in the production of milk, pulses, jute, rice and millets, and second in wheat, cotton, fruits, vegetables and fish. The Prime Minister said the government is actively promoting crop diversification and allied activities, and detailed a nearly 70 percent rise in milk output, a nearly 90 percent surge in egg production, a more than twofold increase in fish production under the Blue Revolution, honey output rising from around 80,000 tonnes to 1.5 lakh tonnes under the Sweet Revolution, and horticulture production increasing from 280 million tonnes to over 350 million tonnes.

Under the PM KUSUM Yojana, the Prime Minister said nearly 12 lakh solar pumps have been provided, reducing electricity bills and enabling farmers to earn revenue by generating solar power in their fields. He said the number of soil testing labs has grown from a few hundred in 2014 to over 8,400, alongside more than 725 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and that free vaccines against Foot and Mouth Disease have been administered to livestock of more than 8 crore farmers. The Prime Minister also said that a network of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations has been built, making groups of small farmers into value creators and connecting them with food processing and export markets. He added that India has spent 16 lakh crore rupees over the past 12 years to provide affordable fertilisers despite international price spikes, and that when the West Asia war drove crude oil prices from 70 dollars to 122 dollars per barrel, the government raised diesel by only 7 rupees per litre while absorbing 43 rupees per litre itself at a monthly cost of 14,000 crore rupees.

What is the PM-KUSUM scheme and when was it launched?

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in March 2019. The scheme aims to add solar capacity of about 34,800 MW by March 2026 with a central financial support of over ₹34,000 crore. It has three components: setting up of 10,000 MW of decentralised ground-mounted grid-connected solar plants on barren or cultivable land, installation of 20 lakh standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps, and solarisation of 15 lakh existing grid-connected agriculture pumps. The scheme enables farmers to use solar energy for irrigation and sell surplus power to the grid, thereby turning them from consumers to prosumers of energy.

How has agricultural policy evolved from the Green Revolution?

Agricultural policy in India has moved from food-grain self-reliance under the Green Revolution to a wider focus on dairy, fisheries, horticulture and farm incomes. The Prime Minister traced this trajectory, noting that the White Revolution made India the world's top milk producer, and that the past decade has seen rapid expansion across multiple sectors. The government now promotes crop diversification beyond wheat, rice and sugarcane, and integrates allied activities such as fisheries, poultry and honey production to generate multiple income streams for farmers.

What has the government achieved and what remains to be done?

The government has expanded soil testing labs from a few hundred in 2014 to over 8,400, established more than 725 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and vaccinated livestock of over 8 crore farmers against Foot and Mouth Disease. The PM-KUSUM scheme has provided nearly 12 lakh solar pumps, and 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations have been formed to connect small farmers with processing and export markets. However, the Prime Minister said that merely filling granaries is not enough, and that farmers need to be empowered afresh as global markets, dietary habits, weather patterns and technologies evolve. The Lab to Land approach, which seeks to translate scientific knowledge into farm practices, and the expansion of sensor-based and AI-equipped tools for small cultivators remain ongoing efforts.

What is the next step for agricultural modernisation?

The Prime Minister said the scope of Namo Drone Didis, who operate drones to spray fertilisers and pesticides, is being expanded. He also highlighted the push toward farm-level value addition and converting farmers into agri-preneurs through a thriving ecosystem of agri-engineering and agri-startups. The government's policy, he said, is to ensure that farming does not burden cultivators, and that affordable fertilisers and fuel will continue to be provided despite international price shocks.