Throughout Ethiopia, farmers turn to the sky, hoping for the right rainfall at the right time. Only 5% of the country’s land is irrigated, drastically limiting farm productivity and vulnerability to climate threats. Enter the solar-powered irrigation pump. This pump, which uses energy from the sun to transfer water to farmland where it’s needed, has been used by farmers in a number of countries with great success. However, farmers in Ethiopia have been largely unable to access this type of technology.

TechnoServe is partnering with HelloSolar Technology PLC – a solar energy solutions provider committed to improving the quality of life of rural communities in developing countries by giving access to solar energy – and SunCulture – a Kenya-based company that develops and commercializes solar-powered water pumps and irrigation systems. The Smallholder Solar Pump Alliance, which includes five unique partners, will create a sustainable, scalable model that empowers smallholder farmers to use appropriate, green technology to boost their productivity.