Beyond the technology: The importance of solar lift irrigation studies in Nepal’s mid-hills

By Mamata Aryal, Shisher Shrestha, Darshan Karki, and Manohara Khadka

While 62 percent of Nepali households farm, the productivity of their fields differs widely. Irrigation is a strong predictor of productivity, but two-thirds of the cultivable land lacks year-round access to water; the Government of Nepal aims to change that. The land without irrigation is predominantly in the country’s hills and mountains, where rivers flow in valleys far below agricultural lands. Nevertheless, around half a million hectares could be irrigated by lifting water from rivers to the fields high above.

With technological change, the opportunity to accomplish this lift with solar-powered pumps has become available. As solar lift irrigation (SLI) is a fairly new technology in Nepal, the CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains has been conducting a comprehensive assessment of SLI systems – with a focus on status, implementation effectiveness, and governance in Nepal’s mid-hills region.

Nepal’s push for solar lift irrigation

Nepal’s government is seeking to expand lift-irrigated areas from the currently recorded 2,119 hectares to 25,000 hectares over five years. Federal, provincial, and local governments are making substantial investments in SLI systems to be managed by community-based water user groups in the mid-hills region.

In 2022, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), with support from NEXUS Gains, undertook a stocktake of SLI systems. They inventoried 317 systems across 24 of the 39 mid-hill districts and conducted case studies on seven systems. A worrying finding was that one-fourth of these systems became dysfunctional within a few years of installation. 

Subsequent qualitative research in 2023/4 identified interconnected technical, financial, governance, and social challenges contributing to system failure. Technical challenges included inadequate site selection during detailed feasibility studies (DFSs) and insufficient operation and maintenance capacity. Governance challenges were related to poor monitoring and evaluation, lack of coordination, and limited funding transparency. Social factors included limited community ownership and inequalities that affected system management and use. Water user committees often lacked financial planning and maintenance funds. While the installation phase received the most attention, post-installation challenges in operation and maintenance were too often overlooked.

Addressing these issues requires a holistic approach that addresses technical, governance, and social dimensions through the life of SLI systems. One way to achieve this is by improving DFSs to consider critical governance and social factors. By incorporating social mobilization, community consultation, and socio-economic, political, and historical aspects during the pre-installation phase, DFSs can better address the root causes of system failures. Additionally, improving monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and enhancing coordination among governmental and sectoral stakeholders is crucial for the long-term success of SLI systems.

Stakeholders’ perspectives

NEXUS Gains presented the findings in science-policy forums, workshops, and other engagements with SLI stakeholders. These engagements revealed the practical relevance for future SLI development in Nepal.

During a science–policy dialogue on solar irrigation, Ishwari Tiwari, project manager of the Bheri Corridor Irrigation and River Management Project, stated, “we often discuss ‘failing’ SLI projects but lack clarity on the gaps – from our side or the users. If your research could point out the gaps, it would be easier for implementing bodies.”

Similarly, during an in-depth interview, an official from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation noted, “SLI projects are being implemented independently, and while we know they are failing, we don’t understand why. Research into the reasons behind these failures could help the government find solutions.”

Dr. Laxman Prasad Ghimire, head of the solar energy section at the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), noted, “this kind of independent research bringing information from the ground expands the one-sided perspective of an implementation agency like ours…. Research like this can serve as a guiding document for us to improve policies, plans, programs, and implementation modalities.” Previous research by IWMI, which showed limited adoption and benefits of solar irrigation pumps among women and smallholders, had helped AEPC improve its subsidy delivery mechanism. AEPC Executive Director Nawaraj Dhakal further stated, “Such studies help us gauge the impact of our work, understand users’ perceptions, identify problems, and develop solutions.”

Next steps

The NEXUS Gains research has only dipped beneath the surface of the SLI implementation conundrum, and many critical areas still require investigation. IWMI plans to implement economic analyses, develop scalable business models, and undertake comparative studies of different energy sources for lift irrigation. Collaboration with government bodies, non-governmental organizations, and development partners will be key to translating research into action.

One collaboration is with Indrawati Rural Municipality in central Nepal, where IWMI, with NEXUS Gains and the CGIAR Research Initiative on Mixed Farming Systems, is helping to implement a grid-connected SLI system for 56 marginalized households. The DFS, incorporating research insights, includes a focus on community collaboration. Success could restore confidence in SLI projects and encourage the local government to replicate the model.

The Department of Agriculture within the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has expressed strong interest in continuing to work with IWMI, as they collaborated in NEXUS Gains, and requested technical guidance and capacity building. The research has also impacted Nepal’s private sector: Usha Maskey Manandhar, director of MinErgy, who partnered on the SLI stocktaking, shared that the study offered valuable insights for future SLI system installations. In particular, it guides the company on setting water tariff rates and developing business plans in collaboration with water user committees.

Stakeholders across Nepal are seeing the potential of SLI – and that this potential can only be realized by addressing the technical, social, economic, institutional, governance, and environmental challenges of these systems. Stakeholder collaboration, contextualized implementation, community engagement, and improved governance are as crucial as pipes and solar panels. Put together in just the right way, they can enhance irrigation access, empower local communities, and pave the way for more resilient and prosperous agriculture.

Mamata Aryal is Consultant Researcher at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Shisher Shrestha is National Researcher – Renewable Energy Water & Climate Change, IWMI; Darshan Karki is Researcher – Social Scientist, IWMI; Manohara Khadka is Country Representative – Nepal, IWMI.

This work was carried out under the CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains, which is grateful for the support of CGIAR Trust Fund contributors: www.cgiar.org/funders

Header image: A solar lift irrigation system pumps water from a river in Nepal’s mid-hills region. Photo by Darshan Karki/IWMI.