The Karnataka government is set to introduce the Surya Raitha Scheme 2026, aimed at equipping farmers with solar-powered water pump sets. The state administration intends to replace traditional irrigation pump (IP) sets with these solar alternatives to generate surplus power. This initiative was initially launched as a pilot program in Kanakapura on January 19, 2019.
In the first stage, the Karnataka government plans to swap 310 conventional IP sets with solar pump units. These solar systems offer approximately 1.5 times the pumping capacity of standard irrigation pumps. Additionally, these systems are designed to feed one-third of the surplus energy produced back into the local power grid.
The state government originally announced this project in the 2014 fiscal year to ensure farmers receive reliable power supply during daylight hours.
Karnataka Surya Raitha Scheme 2026
The Karnataka Surya Raitha Scheme assists farmers with irrigation, removing the need to operate pump sets during the night. These solar water pumps help monitor and prevent the waste of water and electricity. The state government will fund this project through a combination of farmer contributions, subsidies from the Central and State governments, and low-interest loans facilitated by the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM).
BESCOM will recoup the loan costs using revenue generated from the surplus energy exported to the grid. Once the loan is fully repaid, BESCOM will deposit subsequent earnings directly into the farmers' bank accounts. The projected payback period is estimated between 12 to 14 years, depending on the volume of electricity generated and consumed.
The Karnataka Electricity Regulation Commission (KERC) will establish tariff structures, with net metering proceeds directed into an Escrow Account. The government will utilize these funds for loan settlements, production-based incentives, and maintenance costs for the community.
BESCOM Initiatives
Under this program, BESCOM is responsible for the following tasks:
- Establishing cooperatives for farmers.
- Distributing relevant subsidies.
- Providing affordable loans to farmers.
- Executing Power Purchase Agreements valid for 25 years.
- Ensuring consistent power delivery to irrigation pumps.
Furthermore, participants must provide shadow-free land for the installation of the solar systems and are responsible for the security of the solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment.
Karnataka Suryan Rath BESCOM
Loan repayments are managed by offsetting the cost of excess energy fed into the BESCOM grid. After the loan is cleared, additional revenue is credited to the farmers' bank accounts. The repayment timeline is expected to span 12 to 14 years, as the earnings are tied to electricity production and usage levels.
The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) defines the tariff plans, and net meter revenues are deposited into an escrow account. The government allocates these funds for debt repayment, performance-based incentives, and maintenance support.
Surya Raitha Scheme - Kanakapura: The Karnataka government has established the "Harobele Surya Raitha Vidyuthchakthi Balakedarara Sangha Niyamitha Society" to oversee this pilot project. This society is responsible for collecting payments from BESCOM and distributing the earnings to the participating farmers.
Benefits of the Surya Raitha Scheme
Participating farmers gain several advantages:
<