India has underscored its commitment to linking renewable energy with agriculture and food systems to strengthen energy security, climate resilience and rural livelihoods, as Union minister for new and renewable energy Pralhad Joshi addressed an inter-ministerial dialogue convened by the International Renewable Energy Agency and the Food and Agriculture Organisation on the sidelines of the IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi. Joshi said India’s approach combines ambition with strong implementation, supported by decentralised action, inclusive design and inter-ministerial coordination, and highlighted flagship programmes such as the PM-KUSUM scheme, under which nearly one million standalone solar pumps have been installed and more than 1.1 million grid-connected pumps solarised, adding over 10,200 megawatts of capacity and reducing reliance on diesel-based irrigation.
The minister also announced preparations to roll out PM-KUSUM 2.0 with a renewed focus on decentralised solar solutions and agri-photovoltaic systems and reaffirmed India’s readiness to scale partnerships and solutions in renewable energy-enabled agrifood systems. On the sidelines of the assembly, Joshi held a series of bilateral meetings, including with Iceland’s director general for international development cooperation, Elín Rós, to strengthen technical cooperation on geothermal energy; with European Commission director-general for energy Ditte Juul Jorgenson to review progress under the India-EU clean energy and climate partnership; and with UAE minister of investment Mohammed Hassan Al Suwaidi to advance cooperation in renewable energy and clean infrastructure across West Asia.
India says it is positioning itself as a global leader in renewable energy-powered agriculture. Union minister for new and renewable energy Pralhad Joshi made the announcement while addressing a high-level dialogue convened by the International Renewable Energy Agency and the Food and Agriculture Organisation at Abu Dhabi. The minister said Indian farmers are increasingly becoming providers of both food and clean energy, driven by the PM-KUSUM scheme launched in 2019. Under the programme, nearly one million standalone solar pumps have been installed, and more than 1.1 million grid-connected pumps have been solarised, adding over ten thousand megawatts of clean energy capacity.
The initiative has helped cut diesel use, stabilise irrigation costs and create new income streams in rural areas. India is now preparing to roll out PM-KUSUM 2.0, with a stronger focus on agri-photovoltaic systems that allow farming and solar power generation to operate side by side on the same land. On the sidelines of the IRENA Assembly, Minister Joshi also held meetings with officials from Iceland, the European Union and the United Arab Emirates to strengthen cooperation in geothermal energy, clean technologies and renewable infrastructure investment. With abundant sunshine and millions of small landholdings, India says it is ready to scale these solutions and play a leading role in transforming agriculture through renewable energy.
