Solar pump installation at Malima Bari peasant association of Bora district, East Shoa zone ( Photo Credit: ILRI\ Amenti Chali) 2016. Addis Abeba– The Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands has announced that it has decided to end imports of water pumps that run on diesel and/or gasoline and instead focus on green energy options, including solar energy and other modern technology options. More than 54,000 water pumps have been distributed for irrigation purposes with the support from development partners, which helped cultivate some 280,000 hectares. However, the the ministry has decided not to import water pumps that run on diesel and gasoline from now on in favor of green energy solutions, Minister Aisha said. Solar water pumps were piloted in Ethiopia as far back as 2016, when the Livestock and Irrigation Value chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) project, in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) launched the demonstration of solar water pumps with pilot households in Oromia and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ (SNNP) regions.

Source: Ethiopian News May 09, 2023 08:45 UTC