India Pushes Renewable Energy for Agrifood Systems at IRENA Talks

India has reaffirmed its push to integrate renewable energy with agriculture and food systems, positioning clean power as a cornerstone of energy security, climate resilience and rural livelihoods. The commitment was highlighted by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi at a high-level inter-ministerial dialogue convened by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on the sidelines of the IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi.

Addressing global policymakers, Joshi said India’s strategy combines ambitious targets with strong on-ground implementation. He emphasised decentralised action, inclusive programme design and close coordination among ministries as key pillars of India’s approach. Central to this effort is the PM-KUSUM scheme, launched in 2019 to promote solar energy use in agriculture.

Under PM-KUSUM, nearly one million standalone solar pumps have been installed across the country, while more than 1.1 million grid-connected irrigation pumps have been solarised. Together, these installations have added over 10,200 megawatts of clean energy capacity. The programme has significantly reduced farmers’ dependence on diesel, helped stabilise irrigation costs and opened up additional income opportunities by enabling farmers to sell surplus power to the grid.

Joshi announced that the government is now preparing to roll out PM-KUSUM 2.0, with a renewed emphasis on decentralised solar solutions and agri-photovoltaic systems. These systems are designed to allow agricultural production and solar power generation to coexist on the same land, addressing land-use concerns while boosting farm productivity and clean energy output.

On the sidelines of the assembly, the minister held a series of bilateral meetings to deepen international cooperation. Discussions included technical collaboration on geothermal energy with Iceland, a review of progress under the India–EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership with the European Commission, and talks with the United Arab Emirates on expanding investment in renewable energy and clean infrastructure across West Asia.

With abundant solar resources and millions of small landholdings, India says it is well placed to scale renewable energy–powered agriculture and play a leading global role in transforming agrifood systems through clean energy.