Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has intensified its efforts to promote the use of solar energy in agriculture, with more than one lakh farmers applying for solar agricultural pump sets, officials said on Thursday. More than 27,700 solar agricultural pump sets have already been installed and commissioned across the State, reducing the demand on the power grid by nearly 144 MW, they said. In a statement, the department said that with more than 27,700 pump sets now operational, Karnataka is rapidly progressing towards its target of 40,000 solar agricultural pump sets. According to officials, the solar pump sets installed under the PM-KUSUM B program are also transforming the lives of farmers. Every solar agricultural pump installed is a permanent investment in Karnataka’s future,” he said.