Sustainable Expansion of Groundwater-Based Solar Water Pumping for Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa
This study was undertaken to assess the potential risks to groundwater availability over the next decade and makes recommendations on how national governments and key solar and agricultural industry stakeholders can maintain groundwater use within sustainable limits.
Solar water pumps (SWPs) are a clean, modern irrigation solution with the potential to improve livelihoods and food security for smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa. As less than 6% of the continent’s farmland is irrigated, there is a tremendous need to accelerate SWP adoption for irrigated agriculture, which can help increase crop yields, diversification, and incomes that can have transformative development potential for rural communities. To achieve this potential, groundwater resources need to be used effectively and managed sustainably.
Our report with the International Water Management Institute was undertaken to assess the potential risks to groundwater availability over the next decade and makes recommendations on how national governments and key solar and agricultural industry stakeholders can maintain groundwater use within sustainable limits. The focus here on groundwater is consistent with our review of published SWP case study information from 20 Sub-Saharan African countries indicating groundwater to be the main water source for irrigated agriculture, animal husbandry, and domestic uses.