Solar Pumps as Micro-Enterprises for Women Leveraging Bihar’s Self-Help Groups for Equitable Irrigation Access
This brief presents an action research pilot in Lohsari village of north Bihar, India, implemented by the Aga Khan Rural Support Program, India (AKRSP-I), with support from the IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program and the Solar Energy for Rural Livelihoods (SE4RL) project. In India’s eastern Gangetic plai...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Brief |
| Language: | Inglés |
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International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
2025
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175014 |
| _version_ | 1855526698557112320 |
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| author | Verma, Shilp Singh, M. Kuriachen, Philip Uppal, A. Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta Usadadia, Nikunj Anand, Abhishek |
| author_browse | Anand, Abhishek Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta Kuriachen, Philip Singh, M. Uppal, A. Usadadia, Nikunj Verma, Shilp |
| author_facet | Verma, Shilp Singh, M. Kuriachen, Philip Uppal, A. Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta Usadadia, Nikunj Anand, Abhishek |
| author_sort | Verma, Shilp |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | This brief presents an action research pilot in Lohsari village of north Bihar, India, implemented by the Aga Khan Rural Support Program, India (AKRSP-I), with support from the IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program and the Solar Energy for Rural Livelihoods (SE4RL) project. In India’s eastern Gangetic plains, solar pumps can offer clean energy for pumping water – to replace highly polluting and costly diesel-based irrigation. However, highly fragmented land holdings make investments in individual solar pumps unattractive and unviable. Since 2016, IWMI and AKRSP-I have been working in north Bihar to pilot solar irrigation entrepreneurs – who can deliver high quality and affordable solar irrigation as a service through a solar pump coupled with a network of buried pipes. Through the flagship rural livelihoods initiative, Jeevika, the government of Bihar has also promoted women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the state – to promote micro-saving and micro-lending. As these SHGs mature, they are also encouraging women members to take up micro-enterprises to enhance their incomes. Through this pilot, we are field testing a model that offers solar pumps as a micro-enterprise for SHG women. The innovative pilot aims to demonstrate how such enterprises can eliminate diesel use, boost women’s economic agency, and enhance irrigation coverage. |
| format | Brief |
| id | CGSpace175014 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | International Water Management Institute (IWMI) |
| publisherStr | International Water Management Institute (IWMI) |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1750142025-11-07T08:04:11Z Solar Pumps as Micro-Enterprises for Women Leveraging Bihar’s Self-Help Groups for Equitable Irrigation Access Verma, Shilp Singh, M. Kuriachen, Philip Uppal, A. Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta Usadadia, Nikunj Anand, Abhishek pumps women's participation small enterprises self-help Irrigation right of access water markets livelihoods renewable energy gender equity solar powered irrigation systems This brief presents an action research pilot in Lohsari village of north Bihar, India, implemented by the Aga Khan Rural Support Program, India (AKRSP-I), with support from the IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program and the Solar Energy for Rural Livelihoods (SE4RL) project. In India’s eastern Gangetic plains, solar pumps can offer clean energy for pumping water – to replace highly polluting and costly diesel-based irrigation. However, highly fragmented land holdings make investments in individual solar pumps unattractive and unviable. Since 2016, IWMI and AKRSP-I have been working in north Bihar to pilot solar irrigation entrepreneurs – who can deliver high quality and affordable solar irrigation as a service through a solar pump coupled with a network of buried pipes. Through the flagship rural livelihoods initiative, Jeevika, the government of Bihar has also promoted women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the state – to promote micro-saving and micro-lending. As these SHGs mature, they are also encouraging women members to take up micro-enterprises to enhance their incomes. Through this pilot, we are field testing a model that offers solar pumps as a micro-enterprise for SHG women. The innovative pilot aims to demonstrate how such enterprises can eliminate diesel use, boost women’s economic agency, and enhance irrigation coverage. 2025-06-06 2025-06-06T10:30:50Z 2025-06-06T10:30:50Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175014 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute (IWMI) IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program Verma, Shilp; Singh, M.; Kuriachen, Philip; Uppal, A.; Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta; Usadadia, Nikunj; Anand, Abhishek. 2025. Solar Pumps as Micro-Enterprises for Women Leveraging Bihar’s Self-Help Groups for Equitable Irrigation Access. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program. 4p. |
| spellingShingle | pumps women's participation small enterprises self-help Irrigation right of access water markets livelihoods renewable energy gender equity solar powered irrigation systems Verma, Shilp Singh, M. Kuriachen, Philip Uppal, A. Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta Usadadia, Nikunj Anand, Abhishek Solar Pumps as Micro-Enterprises for Women Leveraging Bihar’s Self-Help Groups for Equitable Irrigation Access |
| title | Solar Pumps as Micro-Enterprises for Women Leveraging Bihar’s Self-Help Groups for Equitable Irrigation Access |
| title_full | Solar Pumps as Micro-Enterprises for Women Leveraging Bihar’s Self-Help Groups for Equitable Irrigation Access |
| title_fullStr | Solar Pumps as Micro-Enterprises for Women Leveraging Bihar’s Self-Help Groups for Equitable Irrigation Access |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solar Pumps as Micro-Enterprises for Women Leveraging Bihar’s Self-Help Groups for Equitable Irrigation Access |
| title_short | Solar Pumps as Micro-Enterprises for Women Leveraging Bihar’s Self-Help Groups for Equitable Irrigation Access |
| title_sort | solar pumps as micro enterprises for women leveraging bihar s self help groups for equitable irrigation access |
| topic | pumps women's participation small enterprises self-help Irrigation right of access water markets livelihoods renewable energy gender equity solar powered irrigation systems |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175014 |
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