Knowledge Exchange for Making Solar Water Pumping (SWP) System Affordable to Small Farmers

WINROCK International, our cooperation partner is currently implementing solar water pumping (SWP) projects in Nepal and makes it affordable for small farmers. After the completion of workshops and knowledge exchanges in February 2019, they hosted now Orientation and Demonstration Programs for farmers. Read more about the progress here: Winrock International Nepal

All in all, there have been eight orientation and demonstration programs on SWP technology for small farmers between February and March 2019. With mostly appreciated support by the Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihood Programme the programs could take place from 23-26 February 2019 and 26-29 March 2019.

The main objective was to promote SWP systems and raise awareness to rural farmers and showcasing the practical as well as affordable nature of the technology. With an impressing number of 406 participants consisting of farmers and representatives of two eight cooperatives, farmers affiliated to a local development bank, municipality representatives, SWP supplier representatives and Winrock staff.

The programs had the following agenda:

• Opening Session:Introduction to the topic by representatives of Nepal Agricultural Co-operative Central Federation Ltd. (NACCFL) and Winrock.
• Orientation Session:Sharing by Winrock of the Knowledge Exchange Project and explaining the technology with all its characteristics and financial analysis. The promotion of SWP systems and showing the advantages against conventional electric and diesel pumps was the main goal of the session in order to encourage farmers implementing the technology and increasing their productivity. Audio-visual materials were presented to the farmers as well and questions raised concerning governmental subsidies as well as from technical perspectives have been answered.
• Demonstration Session:Four different SWP products were presented in a field visit to the participants and demonstrated in operation at a near river. Technicians and Engineers explained the product and answered questions from the participants about the working principle, application and business model for installing SWP systems.

Further, the implementation of several networks among municipalities, Small Farmer Agricultural Cooperative Limited (SFACL), farmers and SWP suppliers was on account of Winrocks effort. Multiple numbers of network events took place between November 2018 and March 2019, where each stated stakeholder had the opportunity to learn from each other, exchanging contacts and knowledge on SWP technology, with prospect on implementation and its benefits.

Find out more about the project here: Exchange: Knowledge Exchange to Make Solar Water Pumping (SWP) Systems Affordable for Small Farmers (SEPS16)