Solar power can be used for irrigation, cold storage, drying, milling, and agro-processing. It can help smallholder farmers reduce energy costs, manage climate risks and create new income opportunities. But to reach scale and sustainability, solar technology and technical knowledge alone are not enough.
Consider a farmer interested in solar irrigation. Knowing that a pump can deliver water is only part of the decision. The farmer must also compare the investment with expected farm returns, understand financing terms, choose a reliable supplier, and consider crop markets and water availability. A technician supporting the farmer should not only know how to install a solar pump but also be able to advise on system sizing, operating costs and after-sales services. While an extension officer should have the knowledge to link solar irrigation with water availability, crop choice, market demand and environmental safeguards.
Without these capabilities, even appropriate technology can become a risky investment. A technically sound solar irrigation solution will not scale if all business actors like policy makers, financiers, suppliers, technicians, agriculture and extension officers and farmers cannot judge whether the investment makes economic value.
To understand what skills are needed in East Africa to scale and sustain solar irrigation, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and partners organized a training-needs-assessment with farmers, extension workers, policymakers and private-sector actors. The assessment was led by the Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC) and IWMI under the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Prisca Atieno, operations manager at Strathmore University, highlighted the need to build a lasting skills ecosystem for solar-powered agriculture. “Through our partnership with IWMI, we are translating technical expertise into practical, inclusive training that can empower farmers, technicians and institutions across Kenya and the wider East African region,” she said.
