How can dual-use solar systems improve climate resilience and water-use efficiency in Indian agriculture? Discuss the evidence gaps as well.

Dual-use solar, or agrivoltaics, means growing crops under raised solar panels on the same land [1]. As heat stress and water shortage grow, it can make farms more resilient and save water. But the evidence is still thin: only 36 projects (37.54 MW) were operating in August 2025 [1].

Improving climate resilience

• Shade against heat: partial shade from the panels cuts heat stress on crops, which matters most in hot, dry regions [1].
• Soil protection: crops grown between panel rows check soil erosion. Pilots in arid regions reported better yields and soil health [2].
• Second income: selling power adds an income of about ₹60,000 to over ₹1 lakh/acre/year in reported cases. This cushions farmers when crops fail [1].
• Cleaner irrigation: solar pumps replace diesel pumps [1]. A 16-acre farm in Sagar (Madhya Pradesh) grows crops under panels raised 11–13 feet high [4].

Improving water-use efficiency

• Less evaporation: shade reduces water loss from the soil [1].
• Water reuse: pilots in Uttar Pradesh and Telangana send panel-cleaning water straight to irrigation. Rajasthan pilots harvest rainwater from the panels [2].
• Precision irrigation: UP pilots pair the panels with automatic, variable-pressure sprinklers [2].
• Crop fit: the crops found suitable include fruits, vegetables, spices and medicinal plants [1].

Evidence gaps

• Results depend on the crop: PIB admits the benefits depend on the crop, panel design and local conditions [1]. MNRE lists crop shade tolerance as a critical factor [2]. Staples like wheat and rice have not been tested across India.
• Too few projects to judge: 37.54 MW is tiny against an estimated potential of 3,000–14,000 GW [1]. Decentralised farm solar reached only 641 MW of a 10,000 MW target by July 2025 [3]. So long-term data on yield and water use is scarce.
• Unrepresentative pilots: the cost of converting farmland to non-farm use and the lack of central financial assistance keep farmers away [3]. The few pilots that exist are therefore not a fair sample.

Dual-use solar can make one acre a heat buffer, a water saver and an income source at once. To scale it up, India needs ICAR-led crop trials in each agro-climatic zone, open data from the 10 pilots under development [1], and removal of the land-conversion barrier flagged by the Estimates Committee [3]. If aimed at horticulture in hot, dry regions, it can advance SDGs 2, 6, 7 and 13 together.