SunKranti APV 2025: Odisha’s Landmark Summit on Agri-Photovoltaics to Boost Farmer Incomes and Clean Energy

Pashu Sandesh, 01 Aug 2025

On July 30, 2025, Passing Gifts, a subsidiary of Heifer International, hosted SunKranti APV 2025, Odisha’s first state-level summit dedicated to Agri-Photovoltaics (APV), today at the Lemon Tree Hotel, Bhubaneswar. Agri-Photovoltaics enables farmers, especially smallholders (constituting 80% of India’s farmers), to generate solar power alongside crop cultivation — effectively creating a “third crop” and an additional income source, according to studies by ICRIER and TERI.

Odisha enjoys over 300 days of sunshine annually with solar irradiance averaging 5.3 kWh/m²/day. The state’s renewable energy capacity stands at 2,938 MW, 21% of which is solar. Ambitiously targeting 7.5 GW solar capacity by 2030, Odisha is well-positioned to scale Agri-PV technologies (iFOREST 2025).

The summit spotlighted Odisha’s first community-led Agri-Photovoltaics (APV) pilot in Koraput, launched with technical guidance from ICRIER. The pilot integrates solar generation with ongoing cropping to enhance land-use efficiency and empower tribal smallholder farmers through the convergence of sustainable energy and agriculture.

Chief Guest Smt. Surama Padhy, Hon’ble Speaker, Odisha Legislative Assembly, praised the APV model, calling it a “third crop” that can improve livelihoods and enhance income for farmers. She said, “The term Agro-Photovoltaics may be new, but the idea can be effectively integrated with schemes like PM-KUSUM. More awareness is essential to help farmers understand how they can harness solar energy alongside traditional crops.”

Shri Gokulananda Mallick, Hon’ble Minister of State of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (Independent Charge), Government of Odisha, said, “This concept has the potential to bring a transformational shift in rural development, especially in integrating clean energy with allied sectors like fisheries and livestock.”

“Agro-Photovoltaics presents a tremendous opportunity to double farmers' incomes in a relatively short span of time,” said Padmashree Dr. Ashok Gulati, Professor, ICRIER, during his special address. “However, for this potential to be fully realized, there needs to be a shift in traditional farming practices, as this is a new and innovative approach that demands adaptation and awareness at the grassroots level.”

“Odisha is set to implement a pilot project on renewable energy, which includes Agro-Photovoltaics as a key component,” said Shri Vishal Kumar Dev, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Energy, Government of Odisha. “Before rolling out any large-scale initiative, it is essential to conduct in-depth research to identify crop varieties that are best suited for cultivation under solar panels. Agro-Photovoltaics is a brilliant and forward-thinking concept — the real challenge lies in its scalability.”

He added, “We are keen to take this concept forward in Odisha and explore its potential to transform the future of sustainable agriculture and energy convergence.”

The event was also attended by Dr. Arbinda Kumar Padhee, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Odisha; Dr. Satyapriya Rath, IAS, Managing Director, GRIDCO; and Dr. D.K. Singh, Principal Scientist, IARI, among others. During various panel discussions, experts discussed and brainstormed on implementing Agro-Photovoltaics in the farming sector with a strong emphasis on the involvement of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

Passing Gifts, active in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Koraput districts, supports rural livelihoods through backyard poultry, goat rearing, and spice value chains. The organization is now expanding into solar Agri-Photovoltaics to further promote sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture.

Summit Highlights

• Panel discussions on policy, ground-level adoption, and technology scaling

• Participation from government, academia, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), private sector, and development agencies

• Launch of Odisha’s first community-led APV pilot in Koraput, with ICRIER technical guidance

Quotes

“At Heifer, we believe caring for the Earth is essential to sustainable development. Agri-Photovoltaics offers a powerful solution to address food security, energy access, and climate challenges simultaneously not only in India but also South Asia,” said Neena Joshi, Senior Vice President, Heifer International.

Akshaya Biswal, Program Director – Odisha, Passing Gifts, added: “With SunKranti APV 2025, we demonstrate how Agri-Photovoltaics can be a practical and inclusive model for smallholder farmers. By empowering FPOs to lead, we are laying the foundation for a future where clean energy and agriculture grow together.”

“SunKranti APV 2025 is more than a summit — it is a convergence of innovation, inclusion, and action. Aligning clean energy with agriculture and enterprise, we aim to create a replicable model for augmenting farmer incomes and driving an equitable energy transition,” said Rina Soni, Executive Director, Passing Gifts.

About Passing Gifts

Passing Gifts is a wholly owned subsidiary of Heifer International that provides consulting, training, advisory, monitoring, and technical support services to inpiduals, associations, and organizations in India and abroad. Focused on social advancement and sustainable development, Passing Gifts partners with key stakeholders to deliver impactful solutions that foster lasting social, environmental, and economic change. The organization has a strong presence in Odisha, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh, empowering rural communities through capacity building across sectors such as agriculture, livestock, and now clean energy integration. Currently, reaching over 1.3 lakh smallholder farmers.