Collective models for solar irrigation in smallholder systems: Overcoming institutional barriers in Bangladesh

Solar-powered irrigation pumps (SIPs) offer a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to diesel-powered irrigation in smallholder systems, yet their high upfront costs necessitate collective ownership models. This policy brief examines the findings from a mixed-methods study and a pilot implementation of group-based solar irrigation contracts in Bangladesh. The research reveals that while there is strong farmer demand for solar technology, current institutional and regulatory frameworks systematically undermine collective adoption.

• Smallholder irrigation in Bangladesh is currently constrained by high diesel costs and fragmented landholdings, making the near-zero marginal cost of solar pumping attractive to farmers.
• Existing regulatory requirements for formal group registration are administratively prohibitive for the small, localised farmer groups that naturally form around shared pump command areas.
• A lack of organisational capacity within implementing agencies leads to "workarounds" where contracts are signed with individual managers, transforming intended collective models into private fee-for-service arrangements.
• Fragmented procurement processes and a reliance on multiple contractors for different installation stages create significant delays, eroding farmer trust and missing critical cropping windows.
• Policy reforms must focus on streamlining registration for small water user groups, enhancing the capacity of agencies like the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) to facilitate group governance, and consolidating the technology supply chain.