How can India use platforms such as the AgriVoltaics World Conference and the International Solar Alliance to lead the Global South on climate-resilient agriculture?

Agrivoltaics means growing crops under raised solar panels, so the same land gives both food and clean power. India hosted the 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference (AWC) at Bharat Mandapam in October 2026 [1], under the theme "Powering the Global South" [2]. This gives India a platform to lead other developing countries, but only if it can also show that the model works at home.

India's credentials to lead

• Smallholder fit: Chouhan called for agrivoltaic models suited to small and marginal farmers [1]. Smallholders also dominate farming in South Asia and Africa.
• Scheme experience: India runs PM-KUSUM, and its next phase will have a dedicated agrivoltaics component [3].

Using the AWC as a knowledge platform

• Evidence-based siting: An ICAR–IWMI session took up agro-climatic zoning [4]. Crop matrices for India's 15 agro-climatic zones [1] can serve as templates for other tropical countries.
• Farmer-centred models: The conference had a GIZ-led session for farmers and FPOs, and a Pitch-Hub Award for start-ups [4]. India can share how it organises farmers around these projects, not just the hardware.
• North–South bridge: Indo-German cooperation supported the event [2], and the 2027 edition goes to France [4]. This keeps finance and technology moving towards the South.

Using the ISA to scale up

• The ISA Director-General presented the AWC outcomes [4]. This gives a direct route from the conference to ISA member states.
• The ISA could host a Global South agrivoltaics programme with pilot sites, training and shared procurement.
• It should favour grid-connected designs with attractive feed-in tariffs. NITI Aayog–World Bank work shows these reward farmers for saving water, while off-grid solar pumps can lead to over-pumping [5]. This matters for dry, water-stressed countries.

Showing the model works at home

• PM-KUSUM Component A (solar plants on farmers' land) built only 641 MW against a 10,000 MW target. Reasons include no central subsidy and the cost of land-use conversion [6].
• The Estimates Committee asked for a study of crop and income impacts before scaling up [6]. Rules that protect crop yields would make India's model more credible abroad.

The AWC gives India a voice, the ISA gives it reach, and PM-KUSUM 2.0 can give it proof. If India fixes subsidies, land rules and crop-yield checks at home, it can offer the Global South a tested template that advances SDGs 2, 7 and 13 and its own idea of solar diplomacy.