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Solar-powered irrigation

January 17, 2012

Farmers in Nicaragua are opting for solar-powered water pumps. It's an investment that's paying off.

https://p.dw.com/p/S6p5
Image: DW

Project goal: improve irrigation system and farmers' quality of life
Project volume: around $4,800 per solar pump
Project size: more than 30 pumps
CO2 savings: 33 tons a year
Duration: over 10 years

Climate change has made rainfall in Nicaragua increasingly erratic and the long periods of drought have been spelling trouble for farmers. They're forced to depend on diesel water pumps to get ground water in order to irrigate their fields and provide water for their livestock. But diesel isn't just expensive, it also pollutes the environment. The solution to the ruinous cycle is solar-powered water pumps developed by local institutions. Though the environmentally-friendly pumps aren't exactly cheap, several farmers have been opting for them because the investment pays off in the long run. And they're much cleaner than their diesel-run counterparts.

A film by Juri Rescheto

Consequences of Climate Change: Solar Pumps for Nicaragua