Solar-powered irrigation and watering
Irrigation is among the measures that can improve yields, reduce vulnerability to changing rainfall patterns, and enable multiple cropping practices. Although expanding, land area under irrigation nevertheless represents a marginal share of total cultivated area, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where only 5% of farmland is irrigated. Affordable, reliable and environmentally sustainable energy is a vital input for delivering irrigation services.
A large proportion of farmers continue to rely on seasonal rains for irrigation. In this non-access context, farmers are expected to invest in pumping systems to obtain access to groundwater or surface water. The main challenges they face are access to finance and the right technology, as well as the capacity to operate and maintain the systems. Fuel-based solutions can be cumbersome, especially in remote areas where the costof transportation can be inhibitive. More importantly, a substantial proportion of earnings would need to be reinvested into procurement of fuel for subsequent crop cycles.
Solar-based solutions can provide reliable, costeffective and environmentally sustainable energy for decentralised irrigation services in a growing number of settings. When deployed, the benefits include improved livelihoods (increased productivity and incomes, and food security), increased social welfare (poverty alleviation, emissions reduction) and reduced spending on fossil fuel subsidies and centralised infrastructure.
Within the broad spectrum of solutions, solar-powered irrigation has gained prominence lately. While solar pumping technology has been deployed for decades, recent cost reductions and increasing awareness of the potential benefits of this technology, has compelled a growing number of countries to launch programmes to accelerate its deployment. The private sector is showing a keen interest since the application of solar-based power is emerging as the preferred solution due to its predictability in supply, scalability and zero-fuel input.
SINES Export, specialist of the African continent offers a complete range of pumps, solar pumps, solar drives, pumping inverter and solar pumping solutions. The quality of our services, our responsiveness and our desire to bring the best solution to the needs of the African continent makes us a reliable and efficient partner.
