Tanzania Food security and the power of Solar PV Pump Application

Project Introduction

The African continent faces two distinct, yet kindred problems: energy and food security. According to African Centre for strategic studies, in 2021, roughly 570 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lacked access to electricity, resulting from a combination of insufficient installed capacity, grid reliability issues, high electricity costs and inadequate energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Africa faces a mounting food insecurity crisis, in which over 20% of the population suffers from hunger this is due to most rural small holder famers rely on rain fed agriculture for production of commercial and step food. 

Renewable energy-powered technologies have been proven to mitigate some of the damaging effects of climate change (drought, extreme weather, erratic rainfall, etc.) on food production. Solar water pumps and solar-powered mills for example, are able to improve irrigation and agro-processing respectively, by providing reliable, affordable and clean energy to rural farmers. In fact, solar power is estimated to be able to support the irrigation of 6-14 million new hectares, which could augment agricultural yields by up to two- to three-fold, along with reducing irrigation energy costs.

This intervention will concentrate at Mkindo paddy Irrigation scheme from which the Solar power Pv Application Technology pump will be installed to enable the small holder women and young farmers groups get access to irrigate their Paddy farms. The farmillies get access to charge their mobile phones and enhance marketing, communication and hence improve household food security and income.

2. The Problem 

     i) Poverty and food insecurity in the Household

    ii) Unreliable water supply for irrigation scheme

   iii) High cost of Diesel water pump for Irrigation women and youth groups that can't afford

   iv) Unemployment among rural women and youth groups

   v) Un even trade relation between women groups and men in relation to buyers

  vi) Gender imbalances between women and men

3. Value Proposition specifically for this idea is based on returns, Relationship, reputation and          risk management ( Rice Business value proposition)

    a) Returns

i) Acting in both a socially and environmentally responsible manner, considering climate Change perspective matter by reducing pollution from diesel pums

ii) Maximize returns per hecter 

iii) Maximise flexibility of the rice based farming system 

iv) Maximize resilience of whole farming earnings

v) Optmize pre-production supply chain costs

vi) Maximize returns to the groups

b) Relationship

i) Improve the performance of individual rice growers by developing a closer, one on one relationship. 

ii) Improve returns from a detailed under understanding of individual growers, your farming enterprise     and how to specifically improve performance and quality. 

c) Risk Management

i) Explore Water options for growers and Innolif Group

ii) Increase the options for growers to participate in price risk management.  

iii) Align Varietal Premiums with Market Pricing 

d) Research  (increase returns reduce risks)

i) Improve Yield and Water Use Efficiencies, continued and expanded R&D into Dry Rice 

ii) Improve Yield and Water Use Efficiencies, continued and expanded Research & Development into      Dry Rice 

iii) Improvements in Quality Appraisal Systems, quality at the sample stand 

iv) Women enhanced raised voices and participation in Political positions and decision Making

The rice Business Value Proposition will expand Agronomic capabilities to increase returns, grain quality and farming systems that will enhance food security and sustainability for growers and the community.

4, The solution

     i) Solar irrigation is climate-friendly and can help farmers adapt their agricultural practices to prepare          for changing weather patterns. 

ii) Women rice farmers influence policies for a conducive environment for rice farming as a business 

iii) Solar powered irrigation systems are an affordable technology for small and large scale farmers 

iv) Promotion of irrigation through Solar PVC pump for small holder famers as a strategy for poverty reduction, Climate adaptation and food security.

5. The Technology

    i) The Solar powered PVC pump Technology

6.The Team

i) Fortunatus Fungatwende

ii) Dominick Haule

iii) Dafrossa Haule

iv) Wilbroad Mgimba

7. Conclussion and Results

Deploying small-scale, solar powered irrigation pumps in Mkindo Paddy irrigation scheme will           improves irrigation efficiency – increasing crop yields and profits. As a result, farmers can now harvest two to three times a year instead of once a year waiting for increasingly unreliable seasonal rain.The outcome is increasing gender equality in access to energy is expected to create jobs and other opportunities for women in Tanzania’s energy sector. 

Innolif Group is working to make clean technology for agriculture available to women farmers across Tanzania to improve incomes, expand food security, and enhance gender equity.