CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Delhi: New Delhi, October 21: Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called for solar-farming projects to be designed around small and marginal farmers as the seventh AgriVoltaics World Conference opened at Bharat Mandapam on Wednesday.
Agrivoltaics combines electricity generation from raised solar panels with cultivation on the same land. Chouhan said projects must leave enough space for ploughing and crop changes, manage rainwater safely and protect agricultural production.
He also sought dependable electricity purchases, grid connections and timely payments. Farmer Producer Organisations could participate, while local women and young people could be trained to operate and maintain equipment, he said.
The minister stressed that farmers should not be left bearing the cost if a company abandons a project or panels need removal when a contract ends. New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi said an agrivoltaics programme was planned for the next phase of PM-KUSUM. The statements set out policy priorities; they did not announce a new individual application window.
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