Rajasthan Agrophotovoltaics Pilot Integrates Agriculture and Solar Power

Gist A farmer-led agrophotovoltaics APV pilot project in Rajasthan has successfully integrated maize cultivation beneath operational solar panels, replacing the standard practice where solar farms render land agriculturally barren. This dual-use model allows farmers to earn fixed energy revenue without sacrificing crop production, directly addressing the growing conflict between renewable energy expansion and food security. For aspirants, APV represents a critical technological intervention for schemes like PM-KUSUM, offering a viable pathway to augment rural incomes while meeting national climate targets. Background Agrophotovoltaics APV , also known as agrivoltaics, is the practice of utilizing the exact same parcel of land for both solar power generation and agricultural cultivation. Conventional ground-mounted solar installations block sunlight and take productive agricultural land completely out of use, exacerbating food insecurity in a country ranked 102nd out of 123 on the 2025 Global Hunger Index . The PM-KUSUM Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan is a Central government scheme that offers incentives to farmers utilizing solar energy, but its execution and administrative burden rest entirely at the State level. Key Pointers The physical structure…