Ethiopia has been harnessing its reputed 13 months of sunshine to ensure water access for farmers across the country. Across five regions — Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, Central Ethiopia and Sidama — approximately 2,000 solar-powered irrigation systems have been installed by the Government of Ethiopia together with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) between 2016 and 2025. Tangible gains are emerging from solar-powered irrigation, with improved smallholder farmer incomes, nutrition and resilience to climate shocks already evident in targeted areas. These systems have helped 3,199 households diversify crops and reduce dependence on erratic rainfall.
Complementary pilot efforts by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Farm Africa have demonstrated similar achievements, providing 182 solar pumps for an estimated 900 people in the Oromia and Central Ethiopia regions, affirming the potential of solar irrigation to transform rural livelihoods and boost the economy.
Yet these successes have largely remained localized. The question now is not whether solar irrigation works, but how to scale it effectively across Ethiopia’s vast agricultural landscape.
Agriculture remains central to Ethiopia’s economy, comprising roughly 34% of gross domestic product, supporting about 80% of employment and generating nearly 90% of export earnings. Although the country possesses 124 billion cubic meters of water resources — significant compared to other African countries — and an estimated 3.7 to 5.3 million hectares of irrigable land, only about 10% of this potential is currently utilized. The agricultural sector is predominantly smallholder subsistence farming, with about 80% of crop production reliant on rainfed systems. Therefore, scaling irrigation is critical for both economic growth and climate resilience.
