Solar based irrigation systems are innovative and environment friendly solution for the agro-based economy of Bangladesh. The program intends to provide irrigation facility to rural off-grid areas. Solar irrigation systems reduce dependency on fossil fuel and demand for electricity from national grid in irrigation seasons. The program also reduces carbon emission and at the same time saves millions in foreign currency. Given the immense potential the program aims to install solar PV-based irrigation systems in areas where there are possibilities to produce three types of crops throughout the year, all the while staying safe from flooding, arsenic contamination and saline water. To work towards this end, IDCOL has now set a target of installing 50,000 solar irrigation pumps by 2025.

Up to October 2019, IDCOL has approved 1,630 solar irrigation pumps of which 1,323 are already in operation with a cumulative capacity of about 32 MWp. The remaining pumps are expected to come into operation shortly. The World Bank, KfW, GPOBA, JICA, USAID, ADB and BCCRF are supporting this initiative.

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