States » EastPosted at: Oct 22 2026 9:06PM


Odisha fnalising India’s first dedicated Agri-PV policy, targets 1 GW capacity by 2030:Dy CM Singh Deo

Bhubaneswar,Oct 22 (UNI) Odisha is finalising its proposed Agri-PV Policy 2026, aiming to promote the dual use of agricultural land for crop cultivation and solar power generation, Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo announced at the 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday.
Addressing the ministerial session at Bharat Mandapam, Singh Deo outlined the state’s vision of “One Field, Two Harvests”, emphasising that agricultural production and clean energy generation must go hand in hand, with farmers’ interests remaining the top priority.
He said the proposed policy aims to establish a farmer-centric framework for agrivoltaics, integrating agriculture with renewable energy generation.
“We want to make our farmers empowered with Annadata se Urjadata tak,” the Deputy Chief Minister said, underscoring the government’s vision of transforming farmers from food producers into energy producers as well.
The proposed policy targets the deployment of 1 GW of agrivoltaic capacity across Odisha by 2030. It envisages safeguards to ensure that at least 90 per cent of project sites remain under active cultivation, while retaining their agricultural land classification and eligibility for crop insurance.
Under the proposed framework, farmers would have the option of owning agrivoltaic systems to earn income from both crop production and power generation or partnering with solar developers through long-term lease arrangements.
The state also plans to provide greater investment certainty through 25-year power purchase agreements with GRIDCO, guaranteed power offtake, grid connectivity and open-access provisions.
The policy framework is also expected to facilitate the integration of agrivoltaics with existing agricultural support measures, including drip irrigation, solar pumps, cold storage and agro-processing facilities, thereby strengthening farm productivity and rural livelihoods.
Highlighting the growing challenges posed by climate change, Singh Deo said agrivoltaic systems could help farmers adapt to rising temperatures and erratic rainfall. Elevated solar panels can create cooler microclimates, reduce soil moisture loss and provide protection to crops and agricultural workers from excessive heat.
The initiative, he said builds on Odisha’s Renewable Energy Policy 2022 and the momentum generated by the state’s Renewable Energy Investor Conclave in February 2026, which attracted clean energy investment commitments worth Rs.67,000 crore across projects with a combined capacity of 6.8 GW.
The state has also initiated ground-level implementation through a 1 MW agrivoltaic project and a pilot collaboration with Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University to explore advanced agrivoltaic technologies and their suitability for local agricultural conditions.
According to the state government’s estimates, Odisha has around 40.7 lakh acres of suitable cropland and 47.7 lakh acres of fallow land that could offer potential for agrivoltaic development.
Concluding his address, Singh Deo invited global research institutions, private investors and other states to collaborate with Odisha in developing a farmer-centred agrivoltaics model that combines agricultural sustainability with clean energy expansion.
UNI DP
Tags: #Odisha fnalising India’s first dedicated Agri-PV policy# targets 1 GW capacity by 2030:Dy CM Singh Deo
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