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.According to the study, 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.“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.Under the leasing arrangements, solar developers offer annual rentals of Rs 60,000 to Rs 65,000 per acre for contracts spanning 30 years, with a 5% increase every year. Some agreements also provide for landowners to take up supervisory roles at solar installations for a monthly salary of Rs 12,000.“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.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. 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 impact on foodgrain production could also deepen over time. While the immediate effect may be a marginal reduction in grain output, sustained diversion of cultivable land could lead to a regional production deficit over 10 to 30 years, increasing dependence on foodgrain brought in from other regions, the study cautions.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. “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. Lower procurement volumes could place additional pressure on the cooperative supply chain,” said the study.
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