Scaling Solar Irrigation Through Living Labs: A Story of Evidence, Innovation, and Collaboration

As told by Amare Haileslasie, Principal Researcher

What happens when farmers, financiers, innovators, and policymakers are brought together in one room? A recent multi-stakeholder dialogue held in Hawassa, Ethiopia on scaling solar-powered irrigation offered an answer.

Anchored in scientific evidence, including findings published in Sustainability, the dialogue explored a critical question: how can access to finance for solar-powered irrigation be improved for farmers?

The exchange was practical and wide-ranging. Solar pump suppliers presented their business models. Financial institutions unpacked the challenges of risk and repayment. Policymakers pointed to ongoing regulatory bottlenecks. Most notably, farmers and extension agents shared their first-hand experiences—shedding light on what works, what doesn’t, and where the true gaps lie.

This moment marked a turning point—moving from discussion to demonstration.

From Evidence to Innovation: The Living Lab Model

The foundation for this approach lies not in assumptions but in science. A study published on ScienceDirect mapped groundwater potential and salinity risks across the Ethiopian Rift Valley. This data now informs decisions about where and how to promote solar irrigation, ensuring environmentally responsible deployment.

Following the evidence, selected farms that had engaged in pilot initiatives were transformed into living labs—real-world platforms where technologies are tested, adapted, and co-created with end users.

These living labs are active across key districts in Ethiopia’s Rift Valley—Hawassa Zuria, South Sodo, East Meskan, and Adami Tulu—areas marked by both chronic water management issues and significant potential for solar irrigation. A similar model is being implemented in parts of Zimbabwe, where comparable challenges offer opportunities for cross-border learning and innovation transfer.

Why Living Labs—and Why Bundling Matters

Adoption of new technology rarely happens in isolation. A solar pump, on its own, is not enough. Farmers also need the right crops, timely advice, financial support, and the skills to manage water efficiently.

Each living lab introduces a bundled package of innovations, tailored to local conditions:

• Improved soil fertility management: Including compost trials, organic amendments, and nutrient-efficient practices

• Farmer training and capacity development: Focused on solar pump usage, water scheduling, and integrated agronomy

• Climate-smart crop selection: Supporting market-appropriate, water-conscious planting decisions

• Efficient irrigation practices: Demonstrating drip and furrow systems guided by scheduling tools

• Linkages to finance and services: Helping farmers access loans, maintenance support, and insurance

These are not static demonstration plots. Rather, they are evolving spaces where policy meets practice, and data fuels innovation.

As Interim Deputy Director for Scaling for Impact, Dr. Inga Mata-Jacobs notes,

“Bundling is not an afterthought—it’s the engine of adoption. Without soil, water is wasted. Without finance, tech doesn’t scale. But together, these elements unlock real change.”

From Field to Policy

The long-term goal extends beyond individual farms. Insights from these living labs are intended to inform national scaling strategies, refine innovation bundles, and shape financing models that can support broader uptake.

The labs are designed not just as tools for agricultural improvement but as learning ecosystems—feeding evidence back into the hands of policymakers, agripreneurs, and development partners.

A Call to Collaborate

The living lab experience offers a glimpse into the future of sustainable solar irrigation. For those working on scaling irrigation technologies or developing bundled solutions for smallholder farmers, this model presents an open invitation for collaboration, learning, and shared impact.

The work continues. And the potential—for farmers, ecosystems, and food systems alike—is just beginning to unfold.