Exploring Agrivoltaics: A Pathway to Climate‐Resilient and Productive Land Use in Northern Bangladesh

The growing demand for food, energy, and water in resource‐constrained regions intensifies land‐use conflicts, where solar photovoltaic (PV) expansion often competes with agriculture. Agrivoltaics, the co‐location of crop cultivation beneath PV systems, offers a potential dual‐use solution to enhance land efficiency. This study presents one of the first agrivoltaic demonstrations in Bangladesh that evaluates the agronomic, economic, and socio‐social feasibility of agrivoltaics through a field‐based comparative experiment conducted at two solar irrigation pump (SIP) sites in Tetulia, Panchagarh district. A controlled plot design was employed in which selected crops were cultivated under PV panels and in adjacent open‐field control plots across two growing seasons (Rabi/winter and Kharif‐I/summer). Crop yields were quantitatively measured and compared, and extrapolation analysis was performed to estimate national‐scale production potential across approximately 45 ha of existing SIP‐covered land. In addition, qualitative data were collected through semi‐structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) to assess farmer perceptions and gender dimensions. Results indicate that seven Rabi crops, including tomato, onion, and garlic, experienced yield reductions of 10%–20% under shaded conditions, whereas shade‐tolerant ginger and turmeric cultivated in Kharif‐I recorded yield increases of 12.3% and 8.7%, respectively. Scaling the pilot findings (0.01 ha) suggests potential seasonal production of nearly 594 t of ginger and turmeric nationwide (45 ha), corresponding to an estimated economic value of approximately US$0.56 million. Qualitative findings revealed strong farmer interest in high‐value crop cultivation under PV panels and indicated enhanced women's participation in crop management, post‐harvest activities, and contributing to household income diversification. The study demonstrates that agrivoltaics can serve as a climate‐smart approach to optimize land use, strengthen food security, and promote renewable energy adoption while creating opportunities for gender‐inclusive agricultural practices in rural Bangladesh.