Bhubaneswar, Oct 30 (IANS): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday launched a scheme to increase the use of solar energy in the agriculture actor.

Under the "Soura Jalanidhi" scheme, 5,000 solar pumps will be given to farmers with up to 90 per cent subsidy. It will create irrigation potential for 2,500 acres in the state, the Chief Minister told the media here.

The state government has taken the initiative to promote solar photovoltaic pump sets in areas which are unserved and underserved by electricity connectivity with the aim of increasing the irrigation potential and cropping intensity in the state, an official statement said.

The government has also made a provision of Rs 27.18 crore for the scheme in the 2018-19 financial year.

The scheme will generate employment of 1.52 lakh man-days per annum with 300 per cent cropping intensity, the opportunity for providing livelihood support to 5,000 families and will reduce the carbon footprint.

Farmers belonging to the small and marginal categories having a minimum of 0.5 acre cultivable land holding and a dug well will be covered under the programme, the statement added.