Gandhinagar : Gujarat govt is likely to introduce a policy curbing setting up of solar panels over fertile agricultural land in the state. The move comes even as a study conducted by the state agriculture department has pointed out that an increasing number of farmers in the Charotar region of central Gujarat are leasing out fertile agricultural land to solar power developers, attracted by assured long-term rental income and the prospect of insulating themselves from rising cultivation costs, uncertain crop yields and climate-related losses.
Over a longer period of 10 to 30 years, it could result in the permanent loss of topsoil fertility, according to the study’s projections.
The trend is gaining traction in Anand and Vadodara districts, where fertile alluvial soils, irrigation networks and intensive multi-crop farming have traditionally supported agricultural production, according to the study. “Based on concerns raised by the agriculture department that setting up of solar panels over fertile agriculture soil could have adverse long-term impact on the state’s agricultural productivity, the govt is considering a proposal to curb installation of solar panels on fertile agricultural land,” a top official said. “For small and medium landholders grappling with unpredictable farm incomes, the combination of rental and employment income can make solar leasing more attractive than cultivation, particularly when input costs rise, monsoon conditions turn adverse or crop prices fluctuate,” said a source. A reduction in cultivated acreage could diminish the availability of crop residues and other agricultural by-products used as livestock feed, aggravating fodder scarcity, says the study. Lower procurement volumes could place additional pressure on the cooperative supply chain,” said the study.
The study examining the potential impact of the trend warns that the consequences could become more pronounced over time. In the short term, spanning one to five years, the diversion of farmland could cause localised reductions in the availability of fertile plots. “Any sustained decline in milk production could have wider implications for the region’s dairy cooperative network, which depends on a steady supply of milk from village-level producers.