The Gujarat government is preparing to launch a new solar power policy with special focus on farmers where they can give their lease land for installating solar panels and take crops. The farmers will get rentals for the land and also a share in profit as return. Sources in the governme-nt said, "The state government is going to announce this policy soon and special MoUs will be made with farmers. Several companies have also expressed their wish to invest in solar power generation. The state government's Gujarat Energey Development Agency will also play a facilitator's role and the farmers will get returns in many forms." "The farmers will not only get the rental for leasing their farm land, but will be formula of other returns too. As per formlula, they will get share in the profit up to 20% against the power generation and can use the power generated through solar panels extraction of ground water. They will not be charged for the power," sources added. The validity of MoUs between investors and farmers will be for a period of five years. There will not be any limit on the land the farmers want to rent out. They can use the water that is used to wash the solar panels, for micro-irrigation like drip or sprinkler for the crops." "It will not be like the land given on lease cannot be utilised for farming purpose, in fact the space between the rows of panels will be free for farming and short crops like vegetables and some grains can also be taken," sources further added. PEEP INTO POLICY

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