Aggrico Solar partners GCAP to test solar powered irrigation system on farms

Aggrico Solar is partnering with the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) to conduct a pilot test on the use of solar powered irrigation systems on some selected vegetable farms across the country.

The project will be undertaken at the Kukobila Nasia farms for the Northern sector and at the Anyako Farms for the Southern sector.

Aggrico Solar at a ceremony held at the offices of GCAP donated the items to the two selected farmers from the respective farms.

Project manager for Aggrico Solar, Amol Parker, stated that, the solar water pumps have zero running costs and are not dependent on an often-unreliable electrical grid. According to him the the pilot will be done within one full crop cycle.

He added that the pumps can last up to five years and can be used to water about 1 acre of land within four days.

Project Coordinator of Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP), Mr Charles Nornoo said he was happy to be collaborating with Aggrico Solar who intend to bring this good initiative out for the farmers to try before they purchase it.

Hisham Seidu, a beneficiary of this project from the Kukobila Nasia farm told The Finder it’s a good initiative and hopes the use of solar will be able to save cost. According to him, his farm uses the drip irrigation system which is powered by electricity, thus with the introduction of solar, he hopes to cut down cost on electricity.

The project is to ensure businesses make profit after 12 months, as well as demonstrate that using solar saves costs and there will be regular monitoring by the GCAP.

The items donated were, Grade A 265-watt solar panel, 300 meters of durable sprinkle tape and 24 volt/200 watt DC impeller pump. The solar water system is designed to work reliably in the harshest environments, including rivers and sandy waters, with minimal maintenance and no damage to ecosystem.

Each kits contains everything a farmer needs to irrigate 1,000 square meters (1/4 acre) of land straight out of the box.