FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL OUTLOOK OF GROUNDWATER-SOLAR IRRIGATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
By Xie, Hua; Zeng, Ruijie; and Ringler, Claudia
Abstract/Description
Groundwater-fed irrigation holds great promise for enhancing food production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Solar energy offers a renewable and cost-effective solution to power groundwater irrigation; however, unregulated use may threaten the long term sustainability of groundwater resources.
Background
Sub-Saharan Africa has long faced elevated risks of hunger and malnutrition (FAO, AUC, ECA, and WFP, 2023). Currently, cropland in Sub-Saharan African countries is predominantly rainfed, making crop production highly vulnerable to erratic rainfall and climate change. Expanding irrigated agriculture offers a promising solution to address these challenges and improve food security in the region. Groundwater, which is water stored in aquifers beneath the land surface, has been identified as a key resource for supporting the development of irrigated agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. Aquifers act as natural reservoirs, providing the storage capacity necessary for irrigation expansion. Recent discoveries highlighting the vast volume of groundwater storage across the African continent have further fueled expectations about its role in supporting irrigated agriculture development (MacDonald et al., 2012).
Key findings
Groundwater solar irrigation is lucrative. The cost-benefit of solar irrigation varies by crop. The financial feasibility of adopting solar irrigation for different crops is evaluated within their cultivation suitability domains and a groundwater irrigation suitability domain, determined using environmental factors such as terrain and market access. During the cost-benefit analysis, the solar modules for irrigation systems are sized based on each crop’s irrigation water demand and the solar irradiance under local climatic conditions. The investment efficiency for solar irrigation development is measured using the internal rate of return (IRR). A cutoff value of IRR > 12% is applied, with the assumption that solar irrigation adoption will occur only when the calculated IRR exceeds this threshold.
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