“Integrated farming must be promoted for marginal farmers,” said Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan while addressing the National Agriculture-Renewable Energy Conference 2025 in New Delhi on June 04, 2025.
Organised by the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), the conference aimed to foster dialogue among policymakers, experts, and farmers on merging renewable energy with agriculture. On the occasion, Chouhan also released the federation’s latest report and annual reference book on agriculture and renewable energy.
The Minister stressed that integrated farming systems are essential to help marginal farmers make full use of their land and move towards prosperity. He added that India cannot function without agriculture, as nearly 50% of the population still depends on it for livelihood.
Sharing his commitment to farmers, Chouhan mentioned his ongoing visits across the country as part of the 15-day ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ which began on May 29. He has already visited states like Odisha, Jammu, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Patna, and Maharashtra.
Chouhan highlighted six key areas of focus for improving farmers’ lives—increasing production, reducing input costs, ensuring fair prices, providing timely compensation for losses, encouraging diversification, and promoting balanced use of fertilizers. He also underlined the importance of organic farming to protect soil health for future generations.
Speaking on progress since 2014-15, Chouhan stated that agricultural output has risen by 40% under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. While India has seen growth in wheat, rice, maize, and groundnut production, the Minister called for a greater push to improve yields of pulses and oilseeds.
The Minister also highlighted the potential of solar energy for farmers. He said the PM-KUSUM scheme is already helping to secure energy access for farmers through solar technology. Chouhan proposed an innovative model of elevated solar panels in crop fields, which would allow farming and energy generation on the same land.
Calling it a potential game-changer, he assured full government support for its implementation. Concluding his speech, Chouhan urged everyone to give meaningful importance to World Environment Day on June 5 and said solar energy could become a key pillar of environmental protection.
