Water scarcity, food insecurity, and climate change pose many challenges to smallholder farmers. Over 240 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are considered food insecure whilst approximately 80% of the population relies on rain-fed agriculture. In a world where erratic rainfall patterns, droughts, and extreme weather conditions are on the rise, smallholder livelihoods are increasingly at risk. Therefore, smallholders must have affordable access to reliable water supplies to counter these challenges. With the anticipated decrease in water resources by 2050, there is a critical need to enhance irrigation resilience and improve access to reliable water sources for agricultural production.
Solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS), with the ability to harness renewable energy, hold great potential in addressing these challenges. The installation can increase agricultural productivity, farmer’s income as well as enhance farmers’ access to water and power in rural areas, making smallholders more climate resilient.