A one-day workshop, jointly organized by the Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), aimed to bring together policymakers, researchers, the private sector, development partners, civil society, and other key stakeholders. This workshop showcased evidence and research findings from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) funded Solar Irrigation for Agriculture Resilience in South Asia (SoLAR-SA) and the Green Energy Management for Mountain Economy (GEM)
Nepal project funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy. The workshop focused on engaging participants in a science-policy dialogue to scale renewable energy programs, particularly solar irrigation. This highlighted research findings from several studies, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and sustainability in solar irrigation programs. The expected outcomes of the workshop were to exchange knowledge about solar irrigation practices, improve policy dialogues to advance government initiatives, and identify critical research gaps and opportunities for future work in solar irrigation research in Nepal.
The National Science-Policy Dialogue on Solar Irrigation in Nepal addressed crucial themes like Scaling Solar Irrigation, Social Inclusion, and Sustainability. The conference highlighted key takeaways such as the benefits of solar irrigation, the need for greater scalability and inclusivity in solar systems, and the challenges and opportunities in promoting sustainable solar irrigation practices. The event emphasized the importance of collaboration between various stakeholders to drive inclusive growth and sustainability in the irrigation sector.
Additionally, the forum discussions revolved around critical areas for improvement and development in the country’s irrigation and agricultural sectors. These discussions underscored the importance of modernizing irrigation systems through renewable energy, particularly solar power, to enhance resilience against climate change and improve food security.
The discussions revealed that scaling up requires moving beyond technical solutions to address deeper systemic issues. Key
challenges include:
• Policy & Coordination: Unclear policies for grid-connected systems, misaligned subsidies, and a lack of coordination between energy, water, and agricultural ministries.
• Financial Barriers: High upfront costs and a lack of innovative, inclusive financing models that reach marginalized farmers and women.
• Technical & Maintenance Issues: A severe shortage of local technicians for maintenance and repair, leading to a high rate of defunct systems, especially in the mid-hills.
