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Solar irrigation potential in the Sahel

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Accra, Ghana ;

Pages 36 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Booklet

ISBN 978-92-5-139103-7

Synopsis (short abstract) The Sahel is a semi-arid region that stretches across several African countries, lying between the Sahara Desert to the north and the more humid savannah areas to the south.The region is characterized by vast land resources and excellent climatic conditions for growing many crops. However, the lack of available water means this potential remains largely unrealized. Rainfall is low and erratic, and surface water resources are limited. Although groundwater resources exist, they have remained largely untapped due to constraints in the costs and availability of the energy needed to pump and distribute the water. Power grids in rural areas are either absent or unreliable, while petrol and diesel are costly.In this light, the key to unlocking the promise of agricultural sustainability and resilience in the region lies in both finding new sources of water and developing stable and cost-effective ways of powering water pumps and irrigation systems.

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2024. Solar irrigation potential in the Sahel. Accra.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cd1326en

Language English

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