Two-Day Workshop On Agri-Photovoltaic Held In Guwahati

GUWAHATI: The Skill Council for Green Jobs, Ministry of Skill Development, Government of India in collaboration with Ernst and Young India has organised a two days’ Workshop on Agri-Photovoltaic for Discom Officers, Assam Energy Development Agency, Officers of the Commissioner of Industries, Government of Assam, Thinktank, Entrepreneurs and as part of TISA Project supported by GIZ India. The Workshop was held on 27-28 March 2025 at Tapsil Jati Adibasi Praktan Sainik Krishi Bikash Shilpa Kendra, Gauhati Press Club, Guwahati.

The objective of this workshop is to provide the participants with a comprehensive understanding of Agri-Photovoltaic Technology, its implementation and its potential benefits for power distribution companies. The session included expert led discussions, case studies and interactive engagements to facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Hiren Talukdar, PCS, Additional Director in the office of Commissioner of Industries and Commerce, Assam was the Chief Guest and presented the keynote address. He motivated the officers of the Department to serve the farmers and upskill the Innovative Technology in Solar Application which was presented in the two days’ workshop to the participants. Principal, Institute of Textiles, Government of Assam, Ambari, Guwahati delivered a valedictory address as the guest of honour.

The Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour were felicitated by Soumen Koley, Secretary of Tapsil Jati Adibasi Praktan Sainik Krishi Bikash Shilpa Kendra, Gentegory, Palashy, Dhaniakhali, Hooghly district, West Bengal with a stroll and bouquet.

The keynote address was given by Hiren Talukdar where he emphasized the need of Agro-PV for India to become self-sufficient in energy security. The participants have given very useful suggestions in the deliberations.

Sh Pulkit, the expert from skill council for green jobs, India explained the need for clean energy and motivated participants to utilise their land for Electricity production along with crop production which will provide employment generation directly and indirectly resulting in higher income for the farmers and landowners.

Participants deliberated on technology and the details on Government of India policies in Agri photovoltaic. Another expert going by the name of Narender Kumar explained the funding of the project, Government policies, subsidy availability and power purchase agreement with the Discom for 25 years.

He also discussed the crops which can be grown under the Solar panels which can give higher yields. Soumen Koley arranged the workshop where more than 25 officers participated. The workshop was organized in Hindi and English language for the convenience of participants. The participants were provided with certificates of completion by national and international agencies.

Skill Council of Green Jobs is arranging such workshops all across the country for the concerned stakeholders, among whom are farmers, discoms, universities, think tanks, scholars, technicians, funding agencies, installers, etc.

A field visit was organized in Institute of Textiles, Government of Assam, Guwahati, where 40 kWh agri photovoltaic unit is installed. The experts, Sh Pulkit and Narender Kumar, explained the technology and the parts of Agri PV and the crops growing underneath.

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