India to Introduce Dedicated Agrivoltaics Component in PM-KUSUM Scheme to Boost Farm Income
In a major boost to agricultural technology and renewable energy integration, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, announced that the next phase of the PM-KUSUM scheme will include a dedicated component for agrivoltaics. Speaking at the curtain-raiser event for the 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026 in New Delhi on September 9, 2026, the minister highlighted the transformative potential of dual-use land systems to turn India’s traditional farmers ("Annadatas") into energy producers ("Urjadatas").
Agrivoltaics is an innovative agricultural technology that involves installing elevated solar panels over crop fields. This configuration allows crops to thrive underneath while generating clean solar energy above, avoiding the conflict between land use for food production and renewable energy. The initiative will particularly target small and marginal farmers, cooperatives, and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to ensure long-term financial security and land ownership retention.
According to Joshi, farmers can secure three distinct income streams from a single acre of land using agrivoltaics: the sale of harvested crops, the sale of surplus solar electricity to local distribution companies (DISCOMs), and significant savings from using solar energy to replace expensive diesel generators. Since more than 85 percent of India’s farmers cultivate less than two hectares of land, this technology provides critical financial insulation against monsoon disruptions and market volatility. The 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference is scheduled to be held from October 21 to 23, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
