Maharashtra's Solar Agricultural Initiative Earns National Acclaim at Energy Conference
The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has been honored with a prestigious national award for its exceptional work in solarizing agricultural power supply. The recognition came during the All India Discoms Association (AIDA) EDICON-2026 conference held in New Delhi, where Union Minister for Power Shri Manohar Lal presented the award to MSEDCL's Managing Director Lokesh Chandra on Wednesday.
Spotlight on Asia's Largest Decentralized Solar Energy Project
The award specifically highlights the Chief Minister Solar Agricultural Feeder Scheme 2.0, which has been described as Asia's largest decentralized solar energy initiative. This ambitious program has successfully solarized an impressive 1,985 agricultural feeders across Maharashtra, fundamentally transforming the state's agricultural power infrastructure.
Transformative Impact on Farmers and Rural Communities
The scheme's implementation has yielded significant benefits for Maharashtra's agricultural sector:
- Providing reliable daytime power for irrigation to over eight lakh farmers
- Generating substantial rural employment opportunities for more than 70,000 people
- Facilitating sustainable agricultural practices through renewable energy
- Reducing dependence on conventional power sources for farming operations
This comprehensive initiative represents a massive investment of Rs 65,000 crore, demonstrating the state government's strong commitment to renewable energy adoption in the agricultural sector.
National Recognition at Premier Energy Conference
The two-day AIDA EDICON-2026 conference, held on January 21-22, served as a significant platform for energy sector stakeholders. The event brought together:
- Distribution utilities from across India
- Energy sector experts and policymakers
- Renewable energy innovators and implementers
- Government representatives and industry leaders
Maharashtra's achievement in this forum underscores the state's leadership position in implementing large-scale renewable energy solutions for agricultural development. The recognition validates the technical excellence and social impact of the solar agricultural feeder program, setting a benchmark for other states to follow in India's renewable energy transition.
