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Sun powered progress

Solar irrigation Zimbabwe

How the right mix of solar-powered innovations and practical education is helping to feed Gwanda’s farmers and their families.

Erratic rainfall and a lack of electricity in Zimbabwe’s Gwanda district leaves farmers struggling to feed themselves and their families.

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Status

Active

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Country

Zimbabwe

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Themes

Agriculture, Energy Access

A group of people are harnessing sun-powered energy to sow seeds into a bowl.
  • Poor investment and no maintenance has left old irrigation schemes useless and unused.
  • Limited knowledge in how to store and distribute water hinders crop development.
  • Increasing droughts, caused by climate change make it harder to grow enough food, so farmers have nothing left to sell and families are forced to rely on food aid to survive.
A group of people observing sun-powered plants in a greenhouse.

Project Overview

Our approach involved harnessing the power of the sun and sharing new skills and expertise to help farmers water their crops, feed their community and increase their income in the future.

  • Installing solar water pumps allows farmers to cultivate more land. Producing enough food to eat and surplus to sell on for a profit.
  • Learning water conservation techniques helps communities become more resilient to droughts.
  • And giving the farmers ownership of the pumps alongside maintenance training will keep them working into the future.
  • The solar pumps are connected to solar-powered mini-grids which can also be used to install electricity in hospitals, schools and businesses. Improving services for the whole community.

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