Bangladesh farmers turn to solar power to cut costs
Cheaper than diesel and greener, solar irrigation is gaining ground, but high costs and policy gaps are slowing a national push to scale up
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Farmers across Bangladesh are switching to solar-powered irrigation systems, drawn by lower running costs and the possibility of selling unused electricity back to the national grid.
Solar irrigation currently costs between 87 and 99 dollars per acre, roughly 30% to 40% less than diesel-powered alternatives, which run between 125 and 150 dollars per acre. For farmers like Mohammad Anisur Rahman of Jhenaidah District, who installed solar panels directly over his maize field, the savings have been immediate.
Despite the financial case, adoption remains limited. Only 4,058 solar irrigation units have been installed nationwide. According to the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, 71% of the country’s power-operated irrigation systems still run on diesel.
Bangladesh’s climate plan under the Paris Agreement targets 45,000 solar irrigation pumps by 2035, a goal that currently sits at less than nine percent of completion.
Rising global fuel prices, partly driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, have added urgency to the transition. The government has already begun rationing fuel to protect supplies for farmers and industry.
Operators can boost the economic case for solar by selling surplus power to the national grid during off-season periods, but current restrictions on drawing grid electricity when solar output is low remain a barrier to wider investment.
Water experts have also flagged concerns over groundwater depletion, warning that expanded solar irrigation in already water-stressed regions will require stronger regulation and region-specific planning.
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