Operation and maintenance of solar-powered lift irrigation systems

Organisers: Department of Energy, Royal Government of Bhutan; International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD); Bhutan Ecological Society; International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada

Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

About the event

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in collaboration with the Department of Energy (DoE), Royal Government of Bhutan, is organising an operation and maintenance training for local communities and beneficiaries of solar-powered lift irrigation systems. This one-day specialised training targets women farmers and irrigation system operators, equipping them with essential skills and operational skills required for the effective management of solar-powered lift irrigation systems.

Objectives

The objectives of the training on solar-powered lift irrigation systems are designed to build both technical and practical capacity among women farmers and irrigation system operators. They focus on bridging the skills gap in renewable-energy-powered irrigation while promoting gender-inclusive participation. The key objectives are:

• Understand the fundamentals of solar-powered lift irrigation system
• Define roles and responsibilities of system operators
• Enhance knowledge and practical skills on preventive maintenance practices to improve system efficiency and minimise operational downtime
• Develop participants’ ability to identify common technical issues and apply basic troubleshooting techniques for timely resolution and improved system reliability

Expected outcomes

• Improved technical capacity of women farmers and system operators in operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting solar-powered lift irrigation systems
• Enhanced system sustainability with preventive maintenance knowledge to extend the lifespan of equipment, reduce breakdowns, and ensure a reliable water supply
• Enhanced community ownership and accountability in water system management through improved local capacity for tariff collection, water distribution, and system monitoring.

Background

Agriculture is the backbone of Bhutan’s economy, providing employment to about 40% of the population, with women making up more than half of the agricultural workforce. However, its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) has been declining due to climatic, environmental, and socio-economic challenges that threaten national food security.

Currently, only 20% of Bhutan’s cultivable land is irrigated. Most traditional irrigation systems are gravity-fed open channels that operate seasonally and are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The country’s mountainous terrain often requires lifting water from lower elevations, creating logistical challenges while also opening opportunities for innovation. Bhutan’s abundant rivers offer significant potential for renewable energy-powered irrigation solutions, particularly decentralised solar-powered lift irrigation systems.

However, the adoption of these modern systems has been limited by a lack of skilled personnel, and women in particular, who remain under-represented in technical positions. The gender gap limits efficiency, sustainability and equitable participation in the irrigation sector.

To address these challenges, ICIMOD, in collaboration with the Department of Energy, is implementing the Women’s Empowerment through Renewable Energy-Powered Lift Irrigation Systems in Bhutan (WERELIS – Bhutan) project. This project is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, while the Bhutan Ecological Society (BES) serves as the field implementing partner. The WERELIS project provides decision-makers with tools to deploy these systems at scale, build technical capacity to integrate gender considerations into the approach, and develop a potential business model for broader adoption of the technology.

The training is one of the key activities under WERELIS and is intended to equip women farmers and system operators with practical skills in the operation and maintenance of solar-powered lift irrigation systems. It addresses skills gap, enables women to assume leadership roles in modern irrigation management, and aligns with Bhutan’s wider aspirations for sustainable agricultural development.