Empowering Farmers: Haryana Moves to Solarize Agriculture with Massive 127 MW Project Approval

Empowering Farmers: Haryana Moves to Solarize Agriculture with Massive 127 MW Project Approval

May 2, 2026

In a significant stride toward agricultural solarization, the Haryana Government has granted a “one-time approval” for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) totaling 127 MW under the PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) scheme. This move is designed to fast-track the installation of decentralized solar power plants across the state’s rural landscape, directly benefiting farmers by providing them with a reliable source of daytime energy for irrigation.

The PM-KUSUM scheme specifically targets the “solarization” of the agricultural sector, allowing farmers to set up solar projects on their barren or fallow lands. By granting this one-time approval, the state government is bypassing typical bureaucratic delays that often stall small-scale rural projects. These 127 MW of projects will not only help Haryana meet its Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) but also reduce the heavy subsidy burden on the state’s power distribution companies (DISCOMs) by shifting agricultural loads to low-cost solar power.

This development aligns with the broader national trend of treating farmers as “energy entrepreneurs”. Under the KUSUM framework, any surplus power generated by these rural plants can be sold back to the grid, providing a steady secondary income for the farming community. As India continues to break records for peak power demand, decentralized projects like these in Haryana are crucial for reducing grid congestion and ensuring that the “last mile” of the energy transition reaches the heart of rural India.