Irrigation is the lifeline of agriculture in Bangladesh. Irrigation plays a vital role in this country for half of the year when water scarcity seriously handicaps farming operation. Farmer, now a days, cultivate irrigation based different high value crops throughout the year. In advanced farming, irrigation is no limited to one season only. At present irrigation system is operated by conventional power system and diesel run irrigation pump. As the country is facing acute power crisis a diesel running irrigation cost is high. There is a good prospect for solar powered irrigation system in Bangladesh. Existing state owned and private conventional power plants generate only 4000 to 5000 M.W. of electricity a day, whereas the country’s total demand is about 6000 to 7000 M.W.  The demand is growing by 500 M.W. a year due to increasing industrialization, other developments and demands. During Boro season 120 million acre rice field in Bangladesh is irrigated by 1.33 million different types of water pumps among which 87% are diesel operated which require 800 million liter diesel per year. It is estimated that solar irrigation system can save 760 M.W. of electricity power and 800 million liter of diesel every year. Solar irrigation system can save all these power to use in other development purpose for the government of Bangladesh.  Besides this we have plan to provide mini grid solar system in village market, commercial and dense populated area and install low cost solar home system in rural and semi urban area.This project will be implemented with the help of Infrastructure Development Company Ltd. (IDCOL) and other financial institutions.

 

Project Goal

The goal of the project is to design and construct a reliable and cost effective solar irrigation plant in 10 different areas that can be used by the farmers for irrigation throughout the year to boost up and increase their different agro products.

 

Objectives of the project

1. Design and construct a reliable and cost effective solar irrigation plant for marginal farmers;
2. Intensive cultivation and crop diversification through solar irrigation for food security and increased income
3. Motivate and provide sustainable technical support to the farmers to produce high yielding and high value crops;
4. Ensure organic fertilizers and apply poison free pest control system.

 

Project output

1. To install solar irrigation system to irrigate agriculture land for providing enough power of pumping water and supply as per farmer’s needed
2. To facilitate the farmers to produce at least three seasonal crops in a year through solar irrigation system
3. To motivate and provide technical knowledge to the farmers to produce high yielding and high value crops with the solar irrigation projects
4. To install low cost solar home system in rural and semi urban area
5. To install community based mini grid solar system especially in rural market, commercial and dense populated area
6. To establish a Solar Technology Development Institute
7. To build a factory for manufacturing all kinds of solar system materials, equipments, machineries, spare-parts etc.
8. To carry on manufactures, buyers, sellers, and dealers for all kinds of solar system materials, equipments, machineries, spare-parts etc.
9. To import solar system materials, equipments, machineries, spare-parts etc. and sell the same by appointing dealers and agents

Sub-activities: Formation of farmer groups, water supply for marginal farmers, provide technical knowledge to the farmers to produce high yielding and high value crops with the solar irrigation project,facilitate the farmers to produce at least three seasonal crops, increase use of organic fertilizers and apply poison free pest control system and seasonal repayment of installment.

Donor: Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) with collaboration of World Bank.

Project period: 2012-onward (20 years project)

Key learning: The local farmers were in trouble to cultivate the land in lack of electricity but now they overcome this problem and cultivate more land and crops.

 

Project office: House # 123, Ward # 07, Union: Salondor, PS: Thakurgoan Sador, Dist. Thakurgoan

Project area: 1) Dangipukur Solar Irrigation Plant, Thakurgoan Sador Upazila, Thakurgoan; 2) Modho Baliadangi Solar Irrigation Plant, Baliadangi Upazila, Thakurgoan; 3) Nanuhar Solar Irrigation Plant, Pirgonj Upazila, Thakurgoan; 4) Kochol Solar Irrigation Plant, Ranisongkoil Upazila, Thakurgoan; 5) Bokua Anuhar Solar Irrigation Plant, Horipur Upazila, Thakurgoan; 6) Bamonpara Solar Irrigation Plant, Panchagor Sador Upazila, Panchagor; 7) Choto Doluagang Solar Irrigation Plant, Tetulia Upazila, Panchagar; 8) Pamuli Solar Irrigation Plant, Dabigonj Upazila, Panchagor; 9) Chameshori Solar Irrigation Plant, Atowari Upazila, Panchagor; 10) Vognagor Masboal Solar Irrigation Plant, Birganj Upazila, Dinajpur.