German Delegation Explores Indo-German Collaboration on AgriPV and Sustainable Farming at ICAR–IARI (Daily Krishicode Agriculture News)

 

source : ICAR IARI

New Delhi, November 1, 2025

A high-level German delegation, led by Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary (Vice Minister), Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany, visited the ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, to strengthen Indo-German cooperation in AgriPV (Agriculture–Photovoltaic) innovations and sustainable agriculture.

Key Highlights

• The delegation toured the 100 kW AgriPV Pilot Site at IARI, developed jointly by ICAR–IARI and the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), with support from GIZ India.
• The Centre of Excellence on AgriPV, co-established by IARI and NISE, has been approved by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• The initiative aims to integrate solar energy with agriculture, optimizing land use efficiency while enhancing farmers’ income and promoting net-zero farming.

Institutional Collaboration

Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR–IARI, welcomed the delegation and presented IARI’s progress in clean energy adoption, climate-resilient farming, and solar-agriculture integration.

Senior officials from ICAR and partner institutions—including Dr. D.K. Yadava (Deputy Director General, Crop Science, ICAR), Dr. Mohammad Rehan (Director General, NISE), and other IARI leaders—participated in discussions on advancing AgriPV systems across diverse agro-climatic zones of India.

Focus Areas and Discussions

Mr. Saathoff interacted with IARI scientists and students to understand the research framework, operational challenges, and opportunities in combining solar power generation with crop production. The dialogue emphasized:

• Scalable AgriPV models for Indian conditions.
• Data-driven decision systems for optimizing crop–solar synergy.
• Climate-smart technologies supporting sustainability and farmer profitability.

Outcome

The visit reinforced Indo-German strategic collaboration in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, showcasing India’s commitment to green energy transitions, carbon-neutral farming, and technological innovation in agri-research.

Quote: “Integrating solar energy with farming is not just about energy efficiency—it’s about empowering farmers and building resilient food systems,” said S. Saathoff during the visit.

The German delegation’s visit to ICAR–IARI marks a significant step in expanding Indo-German partnerships focused on AgriPV technology, climate-resilient farming, and sustainable energy integration, setting the stage for future collaborative research and innovation in India’s agricultural landscape.