Online training on operation and maintenance of RE-powered lift irrigation systems

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About the training

Bhutan’s irrigation sector faces a critical shortage of skilled professionals, particularly women, at all administrative levels. This gap undermines feasibility studies, system design, construction oversight, and long-term maintenance – limiting modernisation and adoption of solar photovoltaic( PV) irrigation. Therefore, to build a robust future talent pipeline, it is essential to invest in and empower the next generation of professionals.

To address these challenges, the Women’s Empowerment through Renewable Energy-Powered Lift Irrigation Systems in Bhutan (WERELIS – Bhutan) project is organising a one-day specialised online training on operation and maintenance of renewable energy (RE)-powered lift irrigation systems for the students from Technical Training Institute (TTI)-Thimphu, Technical Training Institute-Punakha and Jigme Wangchuk Power Training Institute, Sarpang. This capacity-building program aims to equip participants with critical operation and management skills, helping bridge the gender gap in renewable energy for irrigation.

Objectives  

• Fundamentals of solar powered lift irrigation system
• Roles and responsibilities of system operators
• Preventive maintenance best practices
• Basic troubleshooting techniques

Background

Agriculture employs 40% of the Bhutanese population, with women comprising more than half of the agricultural workforce. However, the sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product has been steadily declining due to a combination of climatic, environmental, and socio-economic challenges, threatening the country’s self-sufficiency in staple crops. Currently, only 20% of cultivable land is irrigated, highlighting a critical gap in agricultural productivity.

Bhutan’s traditional irrigation systems – mainly gravity-fed, open channel – are seasonal and increasingly vulnerable to climate change. The country’s mountainous terrain often necessitates lifting water from sources at a lower elevation, presenting both logistical challenges and opportunities. Bhutan’s abundant fast-flowing rivers present significant potential for renewable energy (RE)-powered solutions, such as decentralised lift irrigation systems – offering a sustainable and innovative path to expand irrigation infrastructure, particularly through sustainable and innovative solutions, and address pressing agricultural challenges. However, current efforts to harness this potential often overlook gender-inclusive and gender-responsive strategies, limiting the equitable participation of women and marginalised groups in the irrigation sector.

WERELIS – Bhutan project seeks to address these gaps. The project is implemented by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in collaboration with the Department of Energy, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Royal Government of Bhutan along with field implementing partner Bhutan Ecological society. The project is funded by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.

The project aims to lay the groundwork for the broader adoption of renewable energy-powered irrigation systems by equipping decision-makers with evidence-based knowledge, practical tools, and scalable models, while also building technical capacity to integrate gender considerations into planning and implementation.