Senegal is set to kick off solar-powered irrigation solutions in the country. This follows a signed agreement between InfraCo Africa and Bonergie Irrigation to scale up access to the systems.
The latest agreement will further efforts of an agreement signed in 2019, when InfraCo Africa joined with solar equipment specialist Bonergie Senegal to establish Bonergie Irrigation, a local Special Purpose Vehicle, to pilot the implementation of over 100 solar-powered irrigation systems.
Under the new agreements, InfraCo Africa will hold a large minority shareholding in Bonergie Irrigation, committing an additional US $2.4 million to scale up farmers’ access to solar-powered irrigation solutions in Senegal.
Rain-fed agriculture
It has long been recognized that reliance on rain-fed agriculture exposes Senegal’s farmers to the effects of climate change on temperature and rainfall patterns. This collaboration aims to ease the impact of climate change on farmers.
“We are excited to continue working with our partners at Bonergie Irrigation to substantially scale up our offering to farmers in Senegal. Access to solar-powered irrigation systems will replace existing diesel pumps, providing farmers with a more sustainable solution to addressing the linked challenges of climate change and food security,” said InfraCo Africa CEO, Gilles Vaes.
The agreement will see the commissioning, sale, installation and maintenance of at least 2,000 further pumps over the next three years. In response to feedback from the pilot, the project will also roll out over 500 drip irrigation systems, which Bonergie says are designed to optimise the efficiency of irrigation whilst also protecting groundwater sources from over-abstraction. The systems come in a range of sizes with hire purchase financing available to spread the cost.
