India has hosted the AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 for the first time in the Global South, bringing together policymakers and experts to discuss the integration of solar power generation with agriculture. The three-day conference was jointly inaugurated by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi. The event will conclude on October 23, 2026, and focuses on expanding agrivoltaics to improve farmers’ income while supporting India’s clean energy transition.
Addressing the inaugural session, Chouhan said farmers could become both food producers and energy producers through agrivoltaic systems. He highlighted that more than 85 percent of Indian farmers have small landholdings, averaging 0.96 hectares, making it essential to design policies that address their practical requirements.
Chouhan stressed that solar installations should allow agricultural activities to continue rather than replace farming. He identified panel height, sufficient spacing for agricultural machinery, soil conservation and effective rainwater drainage as important factors in developing agrivoltaic projects. He also called for the involvement of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and training programmes for rural youth and women in equipment maintenance to create employment opportunities.
Pralhad Joshi highlighted India’s progress in renewable energy, stating that the country’s non-fossil fuel-based installed capacity had reached 308.03 GW, accounting for more than 55 per cent of total installed electricity capacity. He described agrivoltaics through the concept of “One land, two harvests,” in which the same land supports crop cultivation and solar electricity generation.
According to a study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), around 30 per cent of India’s cropland is technically suitable for agrivoltaics. Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh together account for nearly half of this potential. Field studies indicate that dual land-use systems can increase crop yields by 10 to 20 per cent while reducing water consumption by 30 per cent.
Joshi announced that the government plans to introduce an agrivoltaic programme under the next phase of the PM-KUSUM scheme. The initiative is expected to address the 25 to 30 per cent higher initial cost associated with elevated solar structures, which allow farming activities to continue beneath solar panels.
He added that decentralised solar capacity reached 16.3 GW last year, supported by initiatives including PM-KUSUM and the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. He also proposed integrating rural infrastructure mapping, including cold chains under the PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana and infrastructure developed through the PM Gram Sadak Yojana, with electricity grid planning.
Globally, installed agrivoltaics capacity exceeded 18.4 GW in 2025. Citing developments in Italy, Japan and Germany, Joshi said the sector could generate up to 3.32 lakh full-time jobs in India. The conference also marked the launch of the Global Agrivoltaics Climate-Zone Technical Framework to support standardisation.
MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said approximately 25 lakh pump sets had been solarised under PM-KUSUM. He added that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy was working with the Agriculture Ministry to improve farmers’ income through updated power procurement models. Minister of State Shripad Yesso Naik and Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra also attended the inauguration.
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