Solar-Powered Irrigation Can Cut Millions Of Tons Of CO₂ Emissions From Maize Farming In Africa – IFPRI

Solar-powered irrigation is emerging as an important solution to cut greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, especially in regions where diesel-powered pumps are still the main source of irrigation. Diesel pumps are widely used across sub-Saharan Africa, but they are expensive to operate, polluting, and dependent on fuel availability. Replacing them with solar-powered irrigation technologies can significantly reduce emissions while supporting sustainable farming.

Estimates show that if only diesel-powered irrigation is available, national average greenhouse gas emission levels remain high. However, when farmers shift to solar-powered irrigation, the reduction in emissions can be substantial. A clear example can be seen in irrigated maize production across several African countries.

In Ethiopia, the availability of solar-powered irrigation pumps could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 300 kilograms of CO₂ per hectare every year. When applied across the total irrigated maize area, this adds up to as much as 600,000 metric tons of CO₂ avoided annually. This reduction reflects the strong potential of solar technologies to replace diesel pumps in the country, where solar energy can reliably meet irrigation needs in many farming regions.

In Kenya, the estimated reduction is lower but still significant. Solar-powered irrigation could cut emissions by around 200 kilograms of CO₂ per hectare per year, resulting in total savings of up to 500,000 metric tons of CO₂ for irrigated maize. The lower impact compared to Ethiopia is mainly due to the more variable solar irradiance in some parts of the country. This limits the full replacement of diesel-powered pumps, but even partial adoption of solar technologies delivers clear climate benefits.

Nigeria shows the highest potential for emission reductions among the three countries. Here, switching to solar-powered irrigation could reduce emissions by around 500 kilograms of CO₂ per hectare each year. At the national level, this translates into savings of up to 4,000,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually for irrigated maize. The larger impact is driven by Nigeria’s extensive maize-growing areas and better sunlight conditions, which allow solar-powered systems to operate more efficiently and replace diesel pumps on a wider scale.

These findings clearly show that solar irrigation can play a major role in reducing the carbon footprint of farming. Beyond lowering emissions, solar-powered irrigation also supports climate-smart agriculture by reducing fuel costs, improving energy security, and lowering farmers’ dependence on fossil fuels.

The key question now is how to scale up the adoption of solar-powered irrigation. A range of policy and financing tools already exists to support low-carbon technologies. These include subsidies, tax incentives, and mechanisms such as carbon pricing or carbon credits. For sub-Saharan Africa, promoting solar irrigation requires supportive regulatory frameworks that encourage clean energy use in agriculture. Financial instruments that reduce high upfront costs are also critical, as many small farmers cannot afford the initial investment.

Access to climate finance and carbon market schemes can further accelerate adoption, especially when combined with training and technical support. Together, these measures can help expand the use of solar-powered irrigation, leading to higher agricultural productivity, better food security, and stronger climate resilience while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.