I’ve recently returned from a trip to Bangladesh, as part of a promising research project led by Birmingham City University and Bangladesh Agricultural University looking at the opportunities created by replacing diesel-powered irrigation pumps with solar-powered electric ones.
Why does this matter? Farmers in Bangladesh currently use around 2 million diesel pumps for irrigation, which are costly for the farmers to run, and they pollute the environment. Solar power offers a cleaner, and (in the long run) cheaper alternative. But it’s not just about swapping one pump for another — it’s a chance to rethink the energy ecosystem around farming.
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