Wala: Cultivating Solar-Powered Irrigation for Smallholder Farmers in Malawi
Through the sale of their high-performing solar water pumps on credit, Wala are transforming the agricultural landscape, and playing a crucial role in food processing, preservation and security.
In Malawi, where rural households rely on subsistence agriculture and only 12% have electricity, solar-powered irrigation could transform farming. It provides water year-round, boosting productivity and income for smallholders. This access enables farmers to sell their produce or engage in value-added activities, enhancing food security and economic stability.
With the help of the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund, Wala boosted renewable energy access in Malawi by selling high-performing solar water pumps to smallholder farmers on credit through farmer groups. Their extended payment terms made solar solutions more affordable and accessible, easing financial pressures on many farmers, and included previously excluded groups.