India is set to expand the integration of solar power generation with agriculture, with the next phase of the PM-KUSUM scheme expected to support one of the world’s most ambitious agrivoltaic programmes. The announcement was made by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi at the inauguration of the three-day Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026 on Wednesday, jointly inaugurated by Joshi and Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
India is hosting the conference for the first time in the Global South, highlighting the growing role of agrivoltaics in advancing farmers’ incomes, agricultural productivity and clean energy generation.
Chouhan Calls for Farmer-Centric Agrivoltaics
Addressing the inaugural session, Chouhan said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, farmers could become both Annadatas and Urjadatas by adopting solar energy alongside agriculture. He highlighted that integrating farming with solar power could promote global welfare and enhance farmers’ economic prosperity. He stressed that agrivoltaics policies must address the practical needs of small and marginal farmers, who account for more than 85 per cent of India’s farming community.
Explaining the concept, Chouhan said agrivoltaics enables solar power generation through panels installed above agricultural land while allowing crops to grow underneath. With electricity becoming indispensable to modern life and agriculture, he said, integrating energy generation with farming was an important step towards farmers’ welfare.
Agriculture Sector Records 4.5% Growth, Exports Reach USD 52.55 Billion
Highlighting India’s agricultural progress, Chouhan recalled that the country had earlier depended on foodgrain imports to meet its food security requirements. He said India now had well-stocked wheat and rice reserves, reflecting the contribution of farmers to national food security. He also noted that the agricultural sector had sustained a growth rate of 4.5 per cent, while agricultural exports had reached a record USD 52.55 billion.
Small Landholdings Require Practical Agrivoltaic Designs
Drawing attention to structural challenges in the agriculture sector, Chouhan noted that the average landholding in India was only 0.96 hectares. He emphasised that agrivoltaic models must enable farmers to continue cultivation rather than replace farming with solar power generation.
He called for practical system designs that take into account the height of solar panels, spacing between support structures and the movement of agricultural machinery. Such arrangements, he said, should allow farmers to plough their fields and change crops and cropping patterns according to their requirements.
Chouhan also stressed the importance of effective rainwater drainage and harvesting systems to prevent soil erosion and ensure optimal water use. He advocated greater involvement of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and training for rural youth and women in equipment operation, repair and maintenance to generate employment opportunities in villages.
India’s Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity Reaches 308.03 GW
Addressing the conference, Joshi highlighted India’s progress in expanding clean energy capacity alongside economic growth. He said the country’s installed electricity capacity based on non-fossil fuel sources had reached 308.03 GW, accounting for more than 55 per cent of its total installed electricity capacity of approximately 560 GW.
The Minister also highlighted India’s broader economic and technological transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasising the need to balance food security, energy requirements and land availability.
Agrivoltaics Promotes ‘One Land, Two Harvests’
Joshi described agrivoltaics as an approach that allows farmers to earn from both crop cultivation and electricity generation on the same land. Reiterating the principle of “One land, two harvests”, he highlighted its potential to address the competing demands of food production and clean energy generation.
Citing a study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the Minister said an estimated 47.5 million hectares, or approximately 30 per cent of India’s 160 million hectares of cropland, were technically suitable for agrivoltaics.
One deployment scenario covering 16 million hectares estimated annual electricity generation of 12,775 TWh, potentially comparable to or exceeding India’s projected electricity demand of 5,250–10,020 TWh by 2050. Joshi clarified that these were technical estimates and that actual deployment would depend on local conditions and feasibility. Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh together accounted for nearly 50 per cent of India’s estimated agrivoltaic potential.
Technology Can Support Diverse Crops and Reduce Water Consumption
Joshi said agrivoltaics could be adapted to a wide range of agricultural activities, including fruit and plantation crops, vegetables, spices, horticulture, floriculture and fodder cultivation, as well as livestock rearing in suitable settings.
He noted that field studies had indicated potential yield improvements of 10–20 per cent for certain crops and reductions of around 30 per cent in water consumption under suitable agrivoltaic systems.
Linking Agricultural Infrastructure with Power Grid Planning
The Minister highlighted the potential to integrate agricultural infrastructure with electricity-grid planning to improve the identification and development of suitable agrivoltaic project sites.
He noted that more than 7.70 lakh geo-tagged rural facilities had been mapped under the PM Gram Sadak Yojana, while over 400 integrated cold-chain projects had been approved under the PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana. He suggested integrating agricultural facility maps with grid infrastructure to identify suitable locations near mandis, warehouses and cold chains, thereby improving logistics and project viability.
PM-KUSUM and Rooftop Solar Expand Decentralised Capacity
Highlighting existing initiatives to expand solar energy in agriculture, Joshi said PM-KUSUM had supported decentralised solar power plants, standalone solar pumps and the solarisation of existing grid-connected pumps, including feeder-level solarisation.
He also highlighted that decentralised solar capacity had reached 16.3 GW during the previous year, comprising 7.6 GW under PM-KUSUM and 8.7 GW under rooftop solar, largely through the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which had crossed 63 lakh beneficiaries.
Next Phase of PM-KUSUM to Support Agrivoltaic Capacity
Announcing the proposed expansion, Joshi said one of the world’s most ambitious agrivoltaic programmes would be launched under the next phase of PM-KUSUM. The initiative would further expand solar energy in agriculture by aligning the scheme with existing agricultural programmes.
He noted that elevated and tilted structures could make agrivoltaic installations 25–30 per cent more expensive than conventional ground-mounted solar projects. The government aims to bridge this cost gap by supporting AgriPV capacity creation.
Competitive Costs Could Improve Commercial Viability
Joshi said the average cost of electricity supply had been around ₹7 per unit in 2025–26, while some agrivoltaic assessments indicated potential generation costs of ₹3.20–₹3.30 per unit under specific assumptions. He highlighted the importance of competitive project designs and financing models in making agrivoltaics commercially viable.
Global Experiences Offer Lessons for India
Referring to international developments, the Minister said the global agrivoltaics market had surpassed 18.4 GW of installed capacity in 2025.
He highlighted Italy’s €1.7 billion funding programme for farmers, solar developers and research institutions; Japan’s opening of all categories of farmland to agrivoltaics and support for small-scale systems through preferential tariffs; and Germany’s linkage of support to continued agricultural use and minimum crop-yield requirements.
Agrivoltaics Could Generate Up to 3.32 Lakh Jobs
Joshi also underlined the sector’s employment potential. According to the AgriPV Manual of the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy, agrivoltaics could generate between 1.10 lakh and 3.32 lakh full-time-equivalent jobs, contributing to agricultural productivity, skills development, entrepreneurship and rural employment.
International Partnerships to Advance Agrivoltaics in the Global South
The Minister emphasised the importance of international partnerships in developing agrivoltaic solutions suited to the needs of the Global South. He acknowledged the contributions of German partners, the Indo-German Cooperation on Agrivoltaics, the International Solar Alliance and other institutions working to advance the sector.
He noted that countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America faced common challenges, including smallholder farming, water stress, the need for reliable clean energy and access to affordable technologies. He called for cooperation based on mutual learning and locally adapted solutions.
Global Agrivoltaics Climate-Zone Technical Framework Launched
Joshi highlighted the launch of the Global Agrivoltaics Climate-Zone Technical Framework as an important step towards wider adoption of the technology. The framework is intended to help governments, farmers, developers, researchers and financiers make informed decisions, establish technical standards and move from isolated pilot projects towards broader implementation.
PM-KUSUM Solarises Around 25 Lakh Pump Sets
Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Santosh Kumar Sarangi highlighted PM-KUSUM’s contribution to promoting solar energy in agriculture. He said approximately 25 lakh pump sets had been solarised under the programme, benefiting around 25 lakh farmers by enabling them to replace diesel-powered pumps with solar-powered alternatives.
He also highlighted the scheme’s role in reducing diesel consumption and foreign exchange expenditure on crude oil imports.
Government Working on Next Phase of PM-KUSUM
Sarangi said the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy was working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to develop the next phase of PM-KUSUM, with a broader focus on farmers’ progress, income generation and improved livelihoods.
He emphasised the importance of partnerships with national and international institutions and highlighted ongoing efforts to develop suitable electricity procurement models involving power distribution companies and state energy departments to support agrivoltaics at scale.
Three-Day Conference to Conclude on October 23
Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy and Power Shripad Yesso Naik, Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Atish Chandra and other dignitaries were present at the inaugural ceremony.
The three-day Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026 will conclude on October 23, 2026.
-PIB inputs
