Who and what the project needs
Smallholders, organised growers and irrigation-service enterprises. Source assessment; pump/power unit; pipes or drip lines; storage; installation; spare parts and maintenance.
J02 · Educational project model
Small irrigation and solar pumping
Explore a water system sized for your plot, water source and crop. A pump alone is not a complete irrigation project: include storage, distribution, installation and servicing. Establish the required permissions and technical design before asking about asset finance or an eligible supplier programme.
How repayment or affordability should be tested
Match repayments to crop cash flow or evidenced irrigation-service fees. Compare owning with hiring; test dry-season water and lower customer use.
Critical risks
Solar power cannot create water. Unsustainable abstraction, excessive head, poor installation or damaged distribution can make the system uneconomic.
What to prepare
Technical water assessment; permissions where required; site rights; supplier quote; service agreement; buyer and cropping plan.
What to measure
Verified water use and operating reliability; net production margin, not a guaranteed yield increase.