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Piloting Solar Irrigation in Ethiopia
Piloting Solar Irrigation in Ethiopia
Project Approach
There is a growing need for irrigation in Ethiopia due to population growth, food security issues and erratic rainfall distribution.
Although Ethiopia has a huge irrigation potential, most of the
agricultural land is purely rain-fed and only an estimated 1.3 %
is irrigated by smallholder farmers. Those providing smallholder
irrigation rely on diesel/petrol pumps (about 13 %) or even manual
pumping (about 25 %), as horticultural areas have no or limited
access to grid electricity for powering electric pumps. However,
diesel/petrol pumps require frequent maintenance, regular fuel
supply to remote areas and their CO2 emissions have a negative
impact on the environment.
In Ethiopia, the availability of shallow groundwater offers the
potential to use solar-powered irrigation systems for small-scale
irrigation purposes. However, the market for solar irrigation in
Ethiopia is underdeveloped and farmers are unable to afford
such systems.
To explore the potential of solar irrigation, the programme Green
People’s Energy (Grüne Bürgerenergie, GBE) conducted a market
study on solar irrigation in Ethiopia and used the results to design
a pilot project to establish showcases of solar-powered irrigation
systems that increase agricultural production. The project targets
smallholder farmers in the Amhara and Oromia regions and collaborates
with Strengthening Rural Value Chains in Ethiopia (SRVC),
a BMZ-funded project implemented by GIZ.
The project approach is to install solar irrigation systems for
members of horticultural cooperatives and farmer groups. Sites
are selected in cooperation with the SRVC project, taking into
account cooperatives or farmer groups that have previously
worked with SRVC.
The technical implementation of the systems consists of digging
shallow groundwater wells, installing permanent water tanks as
well as solar water pumps and drip irrigation systems. These steps
are complemented by training in maintenance and operation. The
selected cooperatives contribute labour to fortify access roads and
to level the fields for the installation of the solar irrigation systems.
The pilot project also aims to increase awareness and knowledge
of solar irrigation by establishing institutionalised training
capacities at the Ethiopian Water Technology Institute (EWTI)
in Addis Ababa, as well as at the Alage Agricultural Technical and
Vocational
Education and Training (ATVET) institute, near the
town of Batu in the Oromia region.
Methodology of Data Collection
Data for this case study report was collected through a review of
project documents and six qualitative interviews with representatives
of GIZ, the Ministry of Water and Energy, the Ministry of
Agriculture, solar companies, and cooperatives (Mulat Worke and
Ataly Geta).
The case study was conducted between May 2023 and July
2023. At that time, some project activities were still ongoing.
Accordingly,
the effects captured are not exhaustive.
Key Findings
Project Achievements
The project installed 20 solar irrigation systems at selected and clustered smallholder farmer sites in the Amhara and Oromia
regions. While in Amhara, one pump serves one site, the geographical
proximity of the farmers in the second cluster in Oromia
allowed the pump to be shared by two farmers in most cases.
This was achieved by extending and interconnecting the drip
irrigation
lines, so that they stretch out to two plots, while only
being served by one pump.
In addition, the project trained members of the cooperatives in
the functioning and operation of the solar irrigation systems.
The training also covered improved irrigation techniques, such
as efficient drip irrigation, and best practices for harvesting crops
such as onions and potatoes. The drip irrigation systems cover
areas ranging from 1,200 to 2,500m2.
The project also installed two solar irrigation systems in EWTI
and Alage ATVET for practical teaching, demonstration and
awareness-raising purposes. Moreover, the project trained eleven
trainers from the private and public sectors, 38 vocational training
teachers, as well as more than 60 technicians and end-users from
the agricultural, solar, and irrigation sectors.
The project provides a comprehensive solar irrigation training
manual, written in simple language, and covering key aspects
of the sizing, installation, and operation of the solar irrigation
systems. The manual is available in three languages – English,
Amharic, and Oromo – and has been developed in close collaboration
with the Ministry of Water and Energy and the Ministry
of Agriculture. The developed training manual is being used by
both ministries, farmers and cooperatives, training institutions
and other relevant stakeholders.
For some cooperatives, the installation of irrigation systems was
completely new while for others, it has replaced manual water
pumps or diesel pumps. For the former, the project has provided
access to valuable shallow groundwater, and for the latter, the
project has enabled the switch from manual- or diesel pumps to
solar pumps. Manual pumps are time-consuming and require
considerable physical effort to pump small volumes of water. The
use of solar irrigation has enabled these farmers to save time for
other work. One smallholder stated, “The benefit of it is that now
we don’t need to labour to fetch water. So, the solar irrigation
system helped me to save my energy a lot”.
The solar irrigation systems have enabled smallholder farmers
to increase their agricultural productivity. A member of one
of the cooperatives reported that solar irrigation has enabled
them to increase their potato production by shortening the
growing period of this crop. They are now able to grow potatoes
two to three times a year, compared to one time before, which
could translate into increased income. In addition, the quality
of irrigation
has improved (irrigation frequency and volume of
irrigation water).
Encouraged by the positive results, the farmers are also planning
to increase and diversify their crops. They plan to grow other
vegetables such as carrots, onions, and cabbage, hence making
the most out of their limited plot sizes.
The farmers use the solar irrigation system free of charge. In some
cases, non-member farmers adjacent to the solar irrigation system
are also allowed to use the irrigation system for a fee.
In addition, solar irrigation is an effective climate change adaptation
tool that can be used to address the negative impacts of
declining rainfall and enhance smallholder farmers’ resilience to
the impacts of climate change.
Intermediate Impact
For some cooperatives, the installation of irrigation systems was
completely new while for others, it has replaced manual water
pumps or diesel pumps. For the former, the project has provided
access to valuable shallow groundwater, and for the latter, the
project has enabled the switch from manual- or diesel pumps to
solar pumps. Manual pumps are time-consuming and require
considerable physical effort to pump small volumes of water. The
use of solar irrigation has enabled these farmers to save time for
other work. One smallholder stated, “The benefit of it is that now
we don’t need to labour to fetch water. So, the solar irrigation
system helped me to save my energy a lot”.
The solar irrigation systems have enabled smallholder farmers
to increase their agricultural productivity. A member of one
of the cooperatives reported that solar irrigation has enabled
them to increase their potato production by shortening the
growing period of this crop. They are now able to grow potatoes
two to three times a year, compared to one time before, which
could translate into increased income. In addition, the quality
of irrigation
has improved (irrigation frequency and volume of
irrigation water).
Encouraged by the positive results, the farmers are also planning
to increase and diversify their crops. They plan to grow other
vegetables such as carrots, onions, and cabbage, hence making
the most out of their limited plot sizes.
The farmers use the solar irrigation system free of charge. In some
cases, non-member farmers adjacent to the solar irrigation system
are also allowed to use the irrigation system for a fee.
In addition, solar irrigation is an effective climate change adaptation
tool that can be used to address the negative impacts of
declining rainfall and enhance smallholder farmers’ resilience to
the impacts of climate change.
Climate Impacts
Following the calculation methodology of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the installations
described above are estimated to mitigate 32.8 t CO2 e/a
in the year of installation by avoiding and/or replacing the use
of fossil fuels.
This is roughly equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of more
than 23 medium-sized cars in Germany.
Challenges in Project Implementation
First, the implementation of the project was affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, which led to significant delays in the
coordination
and initial meetings with key stakeholders on
federal
level and in the regions.
Second, the civil war in the northern regions of Ethiopia (mainly
Amhara and Oromia) has severely restricted the movement of
international and local experts too. Roads have been cut off and
security concerns have increased, making it impossible to visit
these regions and attend meetings with the cooperatives.
Third, the solar irrigation market in Ethiopia is still in its infancy.
Local solar companies face several import-related challenges such
as a lack of foreign currency, which results in a limited stock of
materials and long processing times of orders
In addition, it was difficult to find solar dryers on the market, and it took time to identify suppliers from abroad. As some of the solar dryers require significant capital, they are unaffordable for the beneficiaries without financial support. Furthermore, since the dryers are imported, they have to be paid for in foreign currency, which poses a further challenge to the beneficiaries. However, the agricultural research centres are conducting research and studies to explore the possibility of substituting some imported components with locally manufactured ones to support the local industry and reduce the costs at the same time.
Sustainability of the Intervention
The cooperative development expert from the local Woreda
(an administrative division/district) monitors the use of solar
irrigation systems by the end-users to anticipate any technical
or operational problems and ensure preventive maintenance.
At the same time, the solar company that installed the solar
system
remains in contact with the farmers to ensure that the
solar irrigation systems are operating properly. Moreover, there is
a 12-month warranty on the supplied equipment, and a 6-month
warranty on the installation work itself.
Furthermore, the training of cooperative members and farmers
was very useful for the proper use and operation of solar irrigation
systems. Some farmers have already thought about investing user
fees from other farmers in a saving fund for maintenance and
repair costs. One farmer group has already started collecting user
fees but has not yet established a savings fund.
Conclusion and Outlook
The Ethiopian government has decided to stop subsidising diesel
pumps currently used for irrigation. This decision may encourage
the use of solar irrigation systems as an alternative. At the same
time, the Small-Scale Irrigation Department within the Ministry
of Agriculture is working hard to promote solar water pumps and
irrigation through training, awareness raising and initiating new
technical support programmes, such as a new programme with
the Global Green Growth Institute.
The project contributes successfully to the efforts of the Ministry
of Agriculture, which has also conducted solar irrigation training
using the developed training manual in other regions of Ethiopia:
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region; Oromia
and Sidama. Furthermore, the Ministry plans to use the training
manual to raise awareness among farmers’ and civil society organisations
that are interested in adapting the agricultural sector to
climate change.
Based on the results of the project, the Ministry of Agriculture is
also working on setting standards for the solar water pumps and
establishing guarantee mechanisms that suppliers have to respect
for the sale and installation of solar water pumps.
The significant scale-up of solar irrigation in Ethiopia will depend
heavily on local solar companies having access to solar irrigation
components and technologies, and eventually starting local
assembly
or manufacturing of these components and technologies.
