A Simple Technology Is Transforming Farming and Livelihoods

In Ethiopia, solar-powered irrigation is enabling farmers to access water year-round, increasing harvests and incomes while reducing reliance on unpredictable rainfall.

“From chilli alone, I earned 27,000 birr in the first production cycle using the solar pump,” said Adem Reshid, a farmer in Gora Hido.

Solar pumps installed in two villages now irrigate 14 hectares for 48 households, enabling up to 4 harvests a year instead of 1. Farmers have shifted to higher-value crops such as onions, tomatoes and peppers, boosting incomes from about $207 annually to several hundred dollars per season. With minimal maintenance costs and no fuel expenses, the systems are up to three times cheaper over their lifetime than petrol pumps, offering a scalable model for climate-resilient agriculture and rural development.