Low-efficiency, rice-husk-based furnace-boiler systems are generally used for meeting thermal energy demand of paddy parboiling in India. Shortages in rice-husk availability are met with fuels such as coal, furnace oil, etc. Besides steam at low pressures, paddy parboiling operations require hot water at temperatures up to 90 degrees C. The financial feasibility of supplementing the energy supply for parboiling of paddy through the use of solar water-hating systems has been assessed. Typical results indicate that as long as the opportunity cost of rice husk is less than Rs 1000/tonne, a solar water-heating system is not financially attractive.