Azrat Bilal

Applicability of solar powered irrigation systems in Afghanistan

Afghanistan, a war-torn country in South Asia, is highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, grappling with severe weather events such as droughts and flooding. In addition to water scarcity, inefficient irrigation practices threaten the country’s agriculture sector, which is crucial for the economy and food security, providing livelihoods for 70% of the population.

Given these challenges, the need to explore innovative and sustainable irrigation and agricultural practices has become more urgent than ever. Among the various solutions, Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) have emerged as a promising approach to tackle the intertwined issues of water scarcity and food and energy insecurities in the region. However, while SPIS have been studied and implemented in other parts of the world, there remains a significant knowledge and research gap regarding their applicability in Afghanistan. This dissertation seeks to bridge this crucial, previously unexplored gap by evaluating the suitability of SPIS in Afghanistan through a comprehensive analysis of three key dimensions: commercial viability, technical feasibility, and social feasibility.

This study employs a multi-faceted research methodology comprising three key approaches. First, a market review evaluates the commercial viability of SPIS by analysing the capital and operational costs of SPIS relative to the economic capacity of the Afghan farmers. Second, technical feasibility is assessed using suitability mapping in Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify optimal locations for SPIS deployment across Afghanistan's diverse landscapes. Finally, social feasibility is explored through stakeholder engagement, utilising semi-structured interviews to gather crucial insights into the acceptance and readiness of local communities and key stakeholders for the adoption of SPIS in Afghanistan.

The findings of this research revealed that that SPIS are not commercially viable under the current economic circumstances in Afghanistan, necessitating the exploration of alternative financing mechanisms. Technical feasibility of SPIS in Afghanistan is remarkably high, with approximately 46% of the arable land suitable for the use of SPIS. Finally, while there is significant interest in adopting SPIS, the study identified several challenges, including issues related to governance, capacity, raising awareness and engaging with local communities.