New Delhi: India highlighted its commitment to integrating renewable energy into agriculture and food systems to enhance energy security, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods during the IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, spoke at a high-level dialogue convened by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), emphasizing India’s ambitious yet practical approach combining decentralised action, inclusive design, and inter-ministerial coordination.
The minister highlighted flagship initiatives such as the PM-KUSUM scheme, under which nearly one million standalone solar pumps have been installed and over 1.1 million grid-connected pumps solarised, adding 10,200 megawatts of clean energy and reducing reliance on diesel-based irrigation. Preparations for PM-KUSUM 2.0 were also announced, focusing on decentralised solar solutions and agri-photovoltaic systems, enabling simultaneous farming and solar energy generation.
On the sidelines of the assembly, Minister Joshi held bilateral discussions with officials from Iceland, the European Union, and the UAE to strengthen cooperation on geothermal energy, clean technologies, and renewable infrastructure investment.
With abundant sunshine and millions of smallholder farms, India aims to scale renewable energy solutions in agriculture, positioning itself as a global leader in clean energy-powered farming.
