Rajasthan Saur Krishi Aajeevika Yojana: This is how farmers can earn money from barren lands

The Rajasthan Government has launched Solar Energy Agriculture Employment Scheme (Saur Krishi Aajeevika Yojana) to help farmers to set up solar energy plants on their unusable or barren land.

Under this scheme, farmers can lease their barren lands to set up solar-energy plants. Through this scheme, farmers can earn income from their barren lands, where farming is not possible, and can elevate their living standards.

The State Government has set up an online portal where farmers and landowners can register their lands to give on lease. On the portal, the land developer can see the land details and set up solar energy plant in accordance with rules. The land developer can also get subsidy (30 percent of the cost) under PM Kusum Yojana.

Additionally, to make the contract between land owners and land developers transparent, the Rajasthan Government will arrange a tripartite agreement between them (landowner, developer and the discom/power company). The agreement will also ensure that risk protection is provided to the farmer/ land owner.

The Saur Krishi Aajeevika Yojana aims to boost the solar-energy generation in the state and Ashok Gehlot-led Government will be able to achieve the target of making Rajasthan a green-energy state. It will also help in reducing the pollution and as well as dependence on the traditional energy.

The state government created the SKAY to support the development of decentralised solar energy plants at agricultural load centres.

Rajasthan's potential for solar energy production has been estimated at 142 Gw. The State Government has established a goal of 30 Gw by 2024–2025 and plans to harness this potential systematically.