{"id":62503,"date":"2025-12-24T17:19:38","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T11:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=62503"},"modified":"2025-12-24T17:56:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T12:26:50","slug":"clean-energy-transition-agriculture-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/24-12-2025\/clean-energy-transition-agriculture-india","title":{"rendered":"India&#8217;s Clean Energy Transition&#8217;s Biggest Potential Lies in Agriculture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Agriculture; Renewable Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>agriculture sector in India<\/strong> holds untapped potential to drive green energy revolution with <strong>over half of India\u2019s population<\/strong> dependent on farming and rural livelihoods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About India\u2019s Agriculture &amp; Energy Transition<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>agriculture sector in India <\/strong>contributes nearly <strong>18% to India\u2019s GDP<\/strong> and employs <strong>over 42% of the workforce<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>According to <strong>India&#8217;s Energy Statistics India (2025), <\/strong>agriculture accounts for <strong>approximately 17% share of electricity use<\/strong>, particularly for irrigation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In <strong>several states,<\/strong> it constitutes over 20% of total electricity consumption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ccbd97\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"601\" height=\"435\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-128.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-62504\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ccbd97; width:272px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-128.png 601w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-128-300x217.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The agriculture sector in India is both <strong>energy-intensive and energy-deficient, <\/strong>heavily on <strong>diesel-powered irrigation pumps<\/strong>, and <strong>post-harvest losses<\/strong> due to inadequate cold storage and high processing infrastructure.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many states <strong>provide free or heavily subsidized electricity<\/strong> to farmers, which has led to <strong>overuse and inefficiencies<\/strong>, including groundwater depletion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>According to the <strong>International Labour Organization (ILO)<\/strong>, India\u2019s renewable energy transition could create <strong>3.7 million green jobs<\/strong>, many connected to agricultural systems.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Each solar-powered cold storage unit represents <strong>a local enterprise<\/strong> requiring technicians, operators, logistics personnel, and community managers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Issues With Agriculture Sector in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hidden Cost of Food Loss: <\/strong>India loses <strong>30\u201340% of its fruits and vegetables<\/strong> after harvest, happen during transport, storage, and processing which depend on <strong>reliable power<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A cold storage unit without power is useless; so are processing centers and preservation systems dependent on erratic electricity or costly diesel generators.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Policy Fragmentation:<\/strong> Energy and agriculture policies are often siloed, limiting cross-sectoral innovation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Schemes like <strong>PM-KUSUM<\/strong>, the <strong>National Solar Mission<\/strong>, and the <strong>PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana<\/strong> have expanded solar access in rural India, but their <strong>full potential remains untapped<\/strong> due to fragmented policy design.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Awareness &amp; Training: <\/strong>Many farmers remain unaware of DRE solutions or lack the skills to operate and maintain them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Financing Gaps:<\/strong> Smallholder farmers often lack access to affordable credit for renewable energy technologies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Other challenges<\/strong> include <strong>high upfront costs<\/strong> for solar pumps despite subsidies; m<strong>aintenance challenges<\/strong> in remote rural areas; and <strong>water overuse risk<\/strong> with solar irrigation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Utilising Clean Energy in Agriculture<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE) Solutions:<\/strong> These systems such as <strong><em>solar mini-grids, rooftop panels, and hybrid units <\/em><\/strong>reduce dependence on unreliable grids and diesel, cut operating costs, and enable <strong>community ownership<\/strong> of energy assets.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>DRE can make rural food systems both resilient and sustainable by localizing power.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DRE solutions generate <strong>employment along the food chain<\/strong>, enhancing both <strong>livelihoods and food security<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transitions in Energy and Digital Innovation: <\/strong>India\u2019s rural transformation is being shaped by digital platforms like <strong>ITC MAARS<\/strong>, offering AI-driven crop advice and market intelligence.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>But, digital tools alone cannot preserve crops or stabilize prices, as <strong>they need energy infrastructure to act on information<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When renewable energy powers cold storages, dryers, and processing units, farmers can convert digital insights into tangible outcomes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Together, <strong>smart energy and smart advisory systems<\/strong> create a powerful engine for rural resilience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Local Innovation and Solutions: <\/strong>Across India, farmers are developing low-cost, context-specific energy innovations. These include:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Solar dryers made from local materials;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Converted refrigerated trucks used as mobile cold storages;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Community-run solar processing units;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bridging Policy Silos: <\/strong>Agriculture and energy are managed by <strong>separate ministries and financing channels<\/strong>, resulting in missed opportunities.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Linking renewable energy initiatives with <strong>agricultural value chains<\/strong> could help bridge rural infrastructure gaps and cut post-harvest losses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Effective coordination between these sectors is key to achieving <strong>climate-smart agriculture<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Case Study of Odisha<\/strong><br><br>&#8211; The <strong>Markoma Women Farmer Producer Company (FPO)<\/strong> established a <strong>5-metric-tonne Ecozen solar-powered cold storage unit<\/strong> to serve local vegetable growers with support from the <strong>Harsha Trust<\/strong>.<br>&#8211; It has reduced post-harvest losses, stabilized prices through organized market linkages, and boosted awareness of solar energy across neighboring communities, since its pilot in <strong>2018.<\/strong><br>a. It demonstrates <strong>reducing food loss is not just about infrastructure, but about smarter energy systems.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Government Policy &amp; Framework<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>PM-KUSUM Scheme (MNRE): <\/strong>It aims to reduce farmers\u2019 dependence on diesel and grid electricity, lower emissions, and provide additional income through surplus energy sales.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Component A:<\/strong> Installation of 10,000 MW of decentralized ground-mounted grid-connected renewable power plants on barren\/fallow land.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Component B: <\/strong>Installation of 2 million standalone solar agriculture pumps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Component C:<\/strong> Solarization of 1.5 million existing grid-connected agriculture pumps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Voluntary Carbon Market Framework (Ministry of Agriculture)<\/strong>: It encourages climate-smart agriculture while creating new income streams.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Register GHG mitigation projects (eg, renewable energy use, sustainable practices).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Earn carbon credit certificates under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monetize eco-friendly practices, especially beneficial for small and marginal farmers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Energy Data Management in Agriculture (NITI Aayog):<\/strong> It highlights the need for accurate energy consumption data to design effective clean energy interventions.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It <strong>recommends <\/strong>inter-ministerial coordination and data-driven policy planning, and <strong>emphasis <\/strong>on monitoring DRE deployment in rural areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Other Policy Initiatives:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clean Plant Programme (CPP):<\/strong> Promotes climate-resilient horticulture through disease-free planting material.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support for <strong>climate-smart agriculture<\/strong> under various centrally sponsored schemes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Incentives for renewable energy adoption<\/strong> in rural infrastructure and agri-processing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward: Towards a Resilient, Net-Zero Future<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>NITI Aayog \u2018Energy and Agriculture Nexus Report 2025\u2019<\/strong> outlines potential synergies:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bioenergy from crop residues<\/strong> could generate <strong>20 GW<\/strong> of power, helping reduce stubble burning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agro-voltaics<\/strong> (farming under solar panels) can enhance <strong>land productivity by 60%<\/strong>, as piloted in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Green hydrogen from biomass<\/strong> and <strong>waste-to-energy<\/strong> plants are emerging as next frontiers for agri-linked clean energy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As India advances toward its <strong>2070 net-zero goal<\/strong>, linking renewable energy with food systems needs to become a <strong>national priority<\/strong>. Key actions include:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expanding solar integration beyond irrigation to post-harvest systems;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offering targeted credit for farmer collectives;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encouraging <strong>public-private partnerships;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Investing in <strong>green skills training;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q]<\/strong> Examine the role of agriculture in India&#8217;s clean energy transition. Do you agree that agriculture holds the greatest potential for clean energy transition?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.business-standard.com\/opinion\/columns\/india-s-clean-energy-transition-s-biggest-potential-lies-in-agriculture-125122201152_1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: BS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Daily-Editorial-Analysis-24-12-2025.pdf\"><strong>Download PDF<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Published on:<\/strong> 24th December, 2025<\/p>\n<p>The agriculture sector in India holds untapped potential to drive green energy revolution with over half of India\u2019s population dependent on farming and rural livelihoods.<\/p \n\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":62525,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/clean-energy.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62503"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62513,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62503\/revisions\/62513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}