5th Meeting of IWMI-Nepal Consultative Committee
On 11th February 2022, IWMI-Nepal held a meeting of the Consultative Committee to discuss IWMI’s strategic engagement for policy support to the Government of Nepal towards sustainable and inclusive farmer-led irrigation development (FLID), and the role of the SoLAR –SA project therein for advancing the roles, agency and knowledge of women and marginalized communities
Brochure
Why SoLAR in South Asia?South Asia is the world’s largest user of groundwater for agriculture, withdrawing approximately 250 km³ of groundwater annually for irrigation. It is estimated that there are roughly 22 million water extraction pumps in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, of which roughly 12 million are electric and 10 million are diesel pumps. Groundwater pumping, fueled by either electricity or diesel, has substantial carbon footprint.
Proposal Document
Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience in South Asia (SoLAR-SA) aims to sustainably manage the water-energy and climate interlinkages in South Asia through the promotion of solar irrigation pumps (SIPs). The main goal of the project is to contribute to climate-resilient, gender-equitable,and socially-inclusive agrarian livelihoods in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan by supporting government efforts to promote solar irrigation.
Year 1 Workplan
To contribute to climate-resilient, gender-equitable, and socially-inclusive agrarian livelihoods in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan by supporting government efforts to promote solar irrigation
Revised Year 1 Plan in response to COVID19
To contribute to climate-resilient, gender-equitable, and socially-inclusive agrarian livelihoods in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan by supporting government efforts to promote solar irrigation
Year 2 Work Plan: Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR)
Bangladesh government envisages solar irrigation as a cheaper and cleaner substitute for expensive diesel-based irrigation currently prevalent in the country. IDCOL is the primary organisation for SIP promotion with the “fee-for-service” model, where IDCOL provides loan and grant to sponsors, who installs SIPs and sell water to farmers in exchange for a fee.