As climate change intensifies, Bangladesh’s farmers face the brunt of increasingly unpredictable weather, from prolonged summers to delayed monsoons. Nearly half the country’s agricultural workforce of women and marginal smallholder farmers, do not own land and face sociocultural barriers that restrict their access to modern technology.
Since irrigation in Bangladesh depends heavily on imported diesel, the Government of Bangladesh has been investing in solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) to enhance energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the International Water Management Institute’s (IWMI) Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project in Bangladesh provides critical insights into the transition from diesel to solar-powered irrigation.
IWMI’s studies conducted in collaboration with the Bangladesh Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), found that SIPs not only cut diesel use but also reduced farmers’ irrigation costs by 20–30%. SIPs provided time-saving, labor-efficient irrigation services and ensured access to supplementary irrigation during delayed monsoons.
IDCOL, as a government-owned specialized non-bank financial institution, promoted a fee-for-service model to scale SIPs. This public–private partnership (PPP) approach has proven effective in expanding access to solar irrigation for smallholder farmers while mobilizing private sector investment. Under this model, the solar irrigation system is owned and operated by private sponsors or NGOs, who invest through a financing structure comprising 15% equity and 35% soft loans from IDCOL. The return on investment comes from irrigation service fees paid by farmers.
“Several SIP projects are already underway through private investments,” noted Abdullah Al Matin, Senior Assistant Vice President (Technical), Renewable Energy Projects, IDCOL. “As we move forward, integrating datasets from multiple sources and engaging across departments will be key to informed decision-making and effective scaling of solar irrigation.”
The Government of Bangladesh is now investing in SIPs to phase out diesel pumps in off-grid areas — an initiative that could be transformative if supported by strong public-private partnerships that ensure equitable access and long-term sustainability.
Solar energy for inclusive agricultural growth through SoLAR Phase II
The second phase of SoLAR goes beyond replacing diesel pumps; it focuses on reimagining how the country uses solar energy for agriculture in ways that benefit farmers — especially those often left behind. Through public-private partnerships, the second phase will help improve policies to reduce emissions and unlock investments that build climate resilience. The project will extend the solar frontier beyond irrigation to integrate innovative applications like agrivoltaics — combining agriculture and solar energy production through solar panels installed above crops — and solar-powered cold storage, which helps increase the shelf life of produce. These innovations aim to strengthen livelihoods and long-term resilience.
“IWMI and its partners aim to co-develop practical solutions, like innovative financing models and solar suitability mapping, to ensure that the transition is both sustainable and inclusive,” said Alok Sikka, IWMI’s country representative in India and Bangladesh.
The second phase will also build the capacity of women, youth and marginalized communities to access and benefit from solar agri-tech solutions.
“Our learnings from the first phase in the Gaibandha chars and Thakurgaon districts show how women using portable micro-solar irrigation pumps have gained both time and opportunity — freeing up hours once spent on domestic tasks and enabling participation in income-generating activities such as fisheries,” said Darshini Ravindranath, project lead for SoLAR and senior researcher at IWMI.
Leveraging its unique public-private partnership model, IWMI first introduced SoLAR in South Asia to Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Pakistan, and then expanded to Ethiopia and Kenya in East Africa as part of a South-South collaboration.
“Responding to Switzerland’s commitment to the global climate agenda, SDC is contributing towards advancing sustainable development and climate resilience in Bangladesh,” said Divya Kashyap Sharma, project manager at SDC. “Through SoLAR, SDC is proud to support the transition from diesel to solar-based irrigation, reducing emissions, strengthening food and water security, and empowering women and smallholder farmers to lead a more resilient agricultural future.”
Challenging prevailing assumptions, IWMI’s comparative research in Bangladesh and India also shows that well-designed solar models offer low-carbon irrigation without major sustainability risks like groundwater over-extraction. For example, in Bangladesh, operator-managed SIPs helped maintain sustainable water use even at lower costs, while in India, grid-connected SIPs with feed-in tariffs incentivize water conservation. These findings demonstrate that with well-designed models and appropriate incentives, solar irrigation can support low-carbon, climate-resilient and water-efficient agriculture, offering valuable lessons for scaling clean energy transitions in South Asia.
“The government’s updated policies and targets reflect our strong commitment to reducing emissions and installing 45,000 solar pumps by 2030,” said Nazmun Nahar Karim, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council. “The next phase will scale sustainable business models, integrate alternate wetting and drying techniques, and strengthen policy and institutional mechanisms to ensure climate-resilient agriculture.”
As climate change intensifies, making irrigation carbon-neutral is crucial for sustaining productivity. Bangladesh’s transition toward solar irrigation offers clean, affordable and efficient alternatives.
