Solar Irrigation Potential, Key Issues and Challenges in Pakistan
Pakistan faces water scarcity and high operational costs for traditional irrigation systems, hindering agricultural productivity. Solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) can potentially provide a sustainable and affordable solution, but face technical, financial and policy barriers to adoption. A co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/9/1727 |
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| author | Fiaz Hussain Seung-Jin Maeng Muhammad Jehanzeb Masud Cheema Muhammad Naveed Anjum Arslan Afzal Muhammad Azam Ray-Shyan Wu Rana Shahzad Noor Muhammad Umair Tahir Iqbal |
| author_facet | Fiaz Hussain Seung-Jin Maeng Muhammad Jehanzeb Masud Cheema Muhammad Naveed Anjum Arslan Afzal Muhammad Azam Ray-Shyan Wu Rana Shahzad Noor Muhammad Umair Tahir Iqbal |
| author_sort | Fiaz Hussain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pakistan faces water scarcity and high operational costs for traditional irrigation systems, hindering agricultural productivity. Solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) can potentially provide a sustainable and affordable solution, but face technical, financial and policy barriers to adoption. A comprehensive study is needed to examine feasibility and identify barriers. Therefore, a comprehensive review study is conducted to identify the potential for solar irrigation, key issues and challenges related to its implementation in Pakistan. The analysis is based on published studies, technical reports and a survey of solar-powered drip irrigation systems. The use of SPIS in Pakistan is becoming a cost-effective and sustainable option for irrigation, particularly in remote and off-grid areas. However, these systems also have their challenges, such as high initial costs, maintenance and repairs, limited access to spare parts, lack of government policies and regulations, lack of technical expertise, lack of financing options and social acceptance. The most pressing issue is the risk of groundwater exploitation by using SPIS. Based on the analysis of the energy and water situation in Pakistan, it is important to sustainably use both solar energy and groundwater resources, through the implementation of effective management strategies and policies. With the right policies and investment in research and development of SPIS and groundwater, farmers can benefit by increasing crop yields, conserving water resources, reducing the cost of energy, increasing productivity and improving the standard of living and access to electricity in remote and off-grid areas. It is recommended that the adoption of solar energy be promoted to run high efficiency irrigation systems (HEIS) with urgent capacity improvement among farmers, advisors and system installers to sustainably manage water resources in SPIS. This would not only help to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and associated environmental impacts, but also increase farmers’ income and reduce their operational costs. Moreover, the use of SPIS can improve crop yields, leading to food security and poverty reduction. Thus, the government and policymakers should consider implementing policies and incentives to encourage the large-scale adoption of solar energy in the agricultural sector. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:03:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-351f3e5e708b44539dedfe4aa52810da |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:03:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-351f3e5e708b44539dedfe4aa52810da2023-11-17T23:57:41ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-04-01159172710.3390/w15091727Solar Irrigation Potential, Key Issues and Challenges in PakistanFiaz Hussain0Seung-Jin Maeng1Muhammad Jehanzeb Masud Cheema2Muhammad Naveed Anjum3Arslan Afzal4Muhammad Azam5Ray-Shyan Wu6Rana Shahzad Noor7Muhammad Umair8Tahir Iqbal9Department of Land and Water Conservation Engineering, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, PakistanDepartment of Agricultural and Rural Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Land and Water Conservation Engineering, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, PakistanDepartment of Land and Water Conservation Engineering, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, PakistanDepartment of Energy Systems Engineering, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, PakistanDepartment of Structures and Environmental Engineering, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, PakistanDepartment of Civil Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan City 320317, TaiwanDepartment of Farm Machinery and Precision Engineering, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, PakistanDepartment of Energy Systems Engineering, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, PakistanDepartment of Farm Machinery and Precision Engineering, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, PakistanPakistan faces water scarcity and high operational costs for traditional irrigation systems, hindering agricultural productivity. Solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) can potentially provide a sustainable and affordable solution, but face technical, financial and policy barriers to adoption. A comprehensive study is needed to examine feasibility and identify barriers. Therefore, a comprehensive review study is conducted to identify the potential for solar irrigation, key issues and challenges related to its implementation in Pakistan. The analysis is based on published studies, technical reports and a survey of solar-powered drip irrigation systems. The use of SPIS in Pakistan is becoming a cost-effective and sustainable option for irrigation, particularly in remote and off-grid areas. However, these systems also have their challenges, such as high initial costs, maintenance and repairs, limited access to spare parts, lack of government policies and regulations, lack of technical expertise, lack of financing options and social acceptance. The most pressing issue is the risk of groundwater exploitation by using SPIS. Based on the analysis of the energy and water situation in Pakistan, it is important to sustainably use both solar energy and groundwater resources, through the implementation of effective management strategies and policies. With the right policies and investment in research and development of SPIS and groundwater, farmers can benefit by increasing crop yields, conserving water resources, reducing the cost of energy, increasing productivity and improving the standard of living and access to electricity in remote and off-grid areas. It is recommended that the adoption of solar energy be promoted to run high efficiency irrigation systems (HEIS) with urgent capacity improvement among farmers, advisors and system installers to sustainably manage water resources in SPIS. This would not only help to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and associated environmental impacts, but also increase farmers’ income and reduce their operational costs. Moreover, the use of SPIS can improve crop yields, leading to food security and poverty reduction. Thus, the government and policymakers should consider implementing policies and incentives to encourage the large-scale adoption of solar energy in the agricultural sector.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/9/1727solar energysolar irrigationHEISgroundwater extractiontube wellsPakistan |
| spellingShingle | Fiaz Hussain Seung-Jin Maeng Muhammad Jehanzeb Masud Cheema Muhammad Naveed Anjum Arslan Afzal Muhammad Azam Ray-Shyan Wu Rana Shahzad Noor Muhammad Umair Tahir Iqbal Solar Irrigation Potential, Key Issues and Challenges in Pakistan Water solar energy solar irrigation HEIS groundwater extraction tube wells Pakistan |
| title | Solar Irrigation Potential, Key Issues and Challenges in Pakistan |
| title_full | Solar Irrigation Potential, Key Issues and Challenges in Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Solar Irrigation Potential, Key Issues and Challenges in Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solar Irrigation Potential, Key Issues and Challenges in Pakistan |
| title_short | Solar Irrigation Potential, Key Issues and Challenges in Pakistan |
| title_sort | solar irrigation potential key issues and challenges in pakistan |
| topic | solar energy solar irrigation HEIS groundwater extraction tube wells Pakistan |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/9/1727 |
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