Affordable Irrigation. Shared Access. Productive Farms.
THE PROBLEM
Farmers in Eastern Province have land and interest but water and affordability limit dry-season farming. Field research across three sites confirmed three distinct barriers: reliable water access (Chimtende), affordability of upfront equipment costs (Dambie), and long-term sustainability and maintenance (Nkhundye Village). Without irrigation, productive farming is largely confined to the rainy season – roughly October to March.
THE SOLUTION
A centralized shared solar irrigation system — one system serving multiple farmers. Solar panels power a pump that draws from a borehole or groundwater source, storing water in tanks distributed across four zones (A–D). Farmers pay graduated contributions aligned with the farming cycle: low payments during land preparation, rising to a final payment at harvest and sales. A community governance committee modelled on the Nkhundye Village biogas cooperative manages operations, finances, and maintenance. Pilot site: Chimtende, selected for water availability, farmer concentration, and willingness to contribute (residents previously pooled ZMW 50 each to drill a borehole).
APPROACH
Shared solar infrastructure · Graduated pay-as-you-produce · Community governance ·
FIELD RESEARCH
Chimtende, Dambie & Kunje Village, Eastern Province
TEAM MEMBERS
The Green Agri Product team members, left to right:
- Sililo Sililo · University of Lusaka (UNILUS) – Economics & Finance
- Eric Hamuyuni · University of Lusaka (UNILUS) – Economics & Finance
- Lushomo Choonga · University of Zambia (UNZA) – Mechanical Engineering
- Oindrila Latif · University of Alberta – Civil Engineering
- Stephanie Yan · University of British Columbia – Chemical & Biological Engineering
- Kenechukwu Okonkwo · University of Alberta – Electrical Engineering Nano
