Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Pralhad Joshi jointly inaugurated the three-day AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on October 21, which will conclude on October 23.
Under the next phase of the PM-KUSUM scheme, India is planning to promote solar energy generation alongside agricultural cultivation. The initiative aims to help farmers earn additional income by generating electricity while continuing cultivation on the same land.
Chauhan emphasized that Agrivoltaic policies must prioritize the needs of small and marginal farmers, who account for over 85 percent of the total number of farmers in the country. He called for solar systems that allow uninterrupted farming and machinery operations while supporting crop cultivation, rainwater management and changes in cropping patterns.
Agrivoltaics to Raise Farm Incomes and Expand Clean Energy Production
Joshi stated that India’s non-fossil fuel-based installed power capacity has reached 308.03 GW, which accounts for more than 55 percent of the country’s total installed capacity of approximately 560 GW.
Citing a study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), he stated that approximately 47.5 million hectares of agricultural land are technically suitable for agrivoltaics. Field studies suggest that suitable agrivoltaic systems could increase yields of certain crops by 10–20 per cent while reducing water consumption by around 30 per cent.
Chouhan highlighted India’s agricultural growth of 4.5 per cent and record agricultural exports of USD 52.55 billion, while emphasising the need to protect agricultural production alongside energy expansion.
The minister acknowledged that the cost of installing elevated solar panels could be 25–30 percent higher compared to conventional ground-mounted solar energy installations. He stated that government support and appropriate financing models would be crucial for making agrivoltaic technology commercially viable.
Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said the government was working with the Agriculture Ministry to develop the next phase of PM-KUSUM, with a stronger focus on farmers’ incomes and rural livelihoods. The conference also featured the launch of the Global Agrivoltaics Climate-Zone Technical Framework to support wider adoption through region-specific technical standards and international cooperation.
(PIB)
