Solar powered drip irrigation: Lessons learned from an impact evaluation in Yemen

This policy note summarizes findings from a clustered randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in eastern Yemen to assess the impacts of subsidized solar powered drip irrigation systems on smallholder farmers’ production decisions and household food security. The study provides causal evidence on...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Jovanovic, Nina, Darwish, Maram, Kurdi, Sikandra, Yamauchi, Futoshi
Formato: Brief
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179369
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author Jovanovic, Nina
Darwish, Maram
Kurdi, Sikandra
Yamauchi, Futoshi
author_browse Darwish, Maram
Jovanovic, Nina
Kurdi, Sikandra
Yamauchi, Futoshi
author_facet Jovanovic, Nina
Darwish, Maram
Kurdi, Sikandra
Yamauchi, Futoshi
author_sort Jovanovic, Nina
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This policy note summarizes findings from a clustered randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in eastern Yemen to assess the impacts of subsidized solar powered drip irrigation systems on smallholder farmers’ production decisions and household food security. The study provides causal evidence on how subsidizing solar drip irrigation for smallholders affects crop choice, market engagement, and welfare outcomes in a fragile, water-scarce context. The intervention led to a significant shift in cropping patterns, with treated farmers becoming less likely to cultivate cereals and more likely to grow higher-value horticultural crops. Treated households also sold a greater share of their harvest in markets during the first season following installation, suggesting increased commercialization. However, the study did not detect significant short-term impacts on household food security, indicating that production changes did not immediately translate into improved consumption outcomes.
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spelling CGSpace1793692026-01-05T20:15:14Z Solar powered drip irrigation: Lessons learned from an impact evaluation in Yemen Jovanovic, Nina Darwish, Maram Kurdi, Sikandra Yamauchi, Futoshi climate change adaptation solar energy irrigation evaluation solar powered irrigation systems trickle irrigation groundwater irrigation irrigation systems This policy note summarizes findings from a clustered randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in eastern Yemen to assess the impacts of subsidized solar powered drip irrigation systems on smallholder farmers’ production decisions and household food security. The study provides causal evidence on how subsidizing solar drip irrigation for smallholders affects crop choice, market engagement, and welfare outcomes in a fragile, water-scarce context. The intervention led to a significant shift in cropping patterns, with treated farmers becoming less likely to cultivate cereals and more likely to grow higher-value horticultural crops. Treated households also sold a greater share of their harvest in markets during the first season following installation, suggesting increased commercialization. However, the study did not detect significant short-term impacts on household food security, indicating that production changes did not immediately translate into improved consumption outcomes. 2025-12-31 2026-01-02T21:28:11Z 2026-01-02T21:28:11Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179369 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179397 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Jovanovic, Nina; Darwish, Maram; Kurdi, Sikandra; and Yamauchi, Futoshi. 2025. Solar powered drip irrigation: Lessons learned from an impact evaluation in Yemen. MENA Policy Note. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179369
spellingShingle climate change adaptation
solar energy
irrigation
evaluation
solar powered irrigation systems
trickle irrigation
groundwater irrigation
irrigation systems
Jovanovic, Nina
Darwish, Maram
Kurdi, Sikandra
Yamauchi, Futoshi
Solar powered drip irrigation: Lessons learned from an impact evaluation in Yemen
title Solar powered drip irrigation: Lessons learned from an impact evaluation in Yemen
title_full Solar powered drip irrigation: Lessons learned from an impact evaluation in Yemen
title_fullStr Solar powered drip irrigation: Lessons learned from an impact evaluation in Yemen
title_full_unstemmed Solar powered drip irrigation: Lessons learned from an impact evaluation in Yemen
title_short Solar powered drip irrigation: Lessons learned from an impact evaluation in Yemen
title_sort solar powered drip irrigation lessons learned from an impact evaluation in yemen
topic climate change adaptation
solar energy
irrigation
evaluation
solar powered irrigation systems
trickle irrigation
groundwater irrigation
irrigation systems
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179369
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AT darwishmaram solarpowereddripirrigationlessonslearnedfromanimpactevaluationinyemen
AT kurdisikandra solarpowereddripirrigationlessonslearnedfromanimpactevaluationinyemen
AT yamauchifutoshi solarpowereddripirrigationlessonslearnedfromanimpactevaluationinyemen