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Will farming under solar panels take off?

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Will farming under solar panels take off?

"As a farmer, you're always at the mercy of weather," says Harpal Dagar who has a farm on the outskirts of Delhi.

"So many times, we lost our produce due to unpredictable conditions," he says.

But five years ago he was approached by Sun Master, a Delhi-based solar power firm, with a deal that would give him a much more predictable income.

Sun Master proposed building solar panels above some of Mr Dagar's fields, with the panels high enough off the ground, that he could continue to farm underneath them.

Under the 25-year deal, Mr Dagar would receive annual payments and Sun Master would keep the proceeds from the electricity generated.

"When the solar company first approached us... many of us feared losing our land. It sounded too good to be true - maybe even a scam," says Mr Dagar.

"But today, I believe it was the best decision I made. My income has tripled, and I sleep peacefully without the stress of climate or crop failure," he says.

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