A new government pilot brings solar-powered drip irrigation to 50 villages, helping farmers manage drought and grow more with less.
Photo source:
sonasolar
Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector has long faced
challenges from climate change, unpredictable rainfall, and power shortages. In
2025, the Ministry of Agriculture responded with a new approach: solar-powered
drip irrigation. This pilot program, rolled out across 50 rural villages,
delivers water directly to plant roots using sunlight-powered systems, cutting
waste, conserving energy, and increasing yields.
The goal is simple but urgent. Help smallholder
farmers grow more crops despite rising heat and less rain. With agriculture
employing over 60% of Zimbabwe’s workforce, building climate resilience through
better water management has become a national priority.
Solar-powered drip irrigation combines two
technologies: solar panels to generate energy and a network of tubes and valves
to deliver water with precision.
Here’s how it works:
This system is especially effective in areas
where rainfall is scarce or irregular. Farmers no longer have to walk long
distances to fetch water, and crops receive steady hydration without overuse.
The impact is already visible in pilot
villages:
The government hopes that by scaling up this
system, more smallholders will be able to stay productive even during dry
spells. This also reduces the pressure on urban food supply chains by keeping
rural farms viable.
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