Business model scenarios and suitability: smallholder solar pump-based irrigation in Ethiopia. Agricultural Water Management – Making a Business Case for Smallholders
Creators: name: Otoo, Miriam
name: Lefore, Nicole
name: Schmitter, Petra
name: Barron, Jennie
name: Gebregziabher, Gebrehaweria
name: Otoo, Miriam
name: Lefore, Nicole
name: Schmitter, Petra
name: Barron, Jennie
name: Gebregziabher, Gebrehaweria
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2018
Subjects: subject: Agribusiness
subject: Agricultural Finance
subject: Community/Rural/Urban Development
subject: Environmental Economics and Policy
subject: Farm Management
subject: Financial Economics
subject: Food Security and Poverty
subject: Marketing
subject: FOS: Economics and business
subject: Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies
subject: Resource /Energy Economics and Policy
subject: Business management
subject: Models
subject: Solar energy
subject: Energy policies
subject: Irrigation methods
subject: Irrigation practices
subject: Pumping
subject: Smallholders
subject: Farmers
subject: Alternative methods
subject: Environmental sustainability
subject: Environmental impact
subject: Corporate culture
subject: Policy making
subject: Renewable energy
subject: Agricultural financial policy
subject: Financing
subject: Supply chain
subject: Economic aspects
subject: Irrigated farming
subject: Agricultural production
subject: Investment
subject: Intensification
subject: Food security
subject: Nutrition
subject: Water supply
subject: Water management
subject: Groundwater
subject: Regulations
subject: Rural communities
subject: Markets
subject: Small scale systems
subject: Women's participation
subject: Case studies
subject: Africa
subject: Ethiopia

description: This report outlines a business model approach to assessing the feasibility and for encouraging investment in smallholder solar pump irrigation. It also proposes a new methodology for mapping the suitability of solar energy-based irrigation pumps. The proposed business model framework and the methodology for suitability mapping are applied to Ethiopia as a case study, based on data from existing case studies and reports. A brief analysis outlines the regulatory and institutional context for investment in solar pump irrigation, and the ways in which it both constrains and attempts to support investment. The report identifies and outlines three business model scenarios that present opportunities for investing in smallholder solar pump-based irrigation, which would contribute towards sustainable intensification for food and nutrition security. The business model scenarios are based on the value proposition of supplying water to smallholder farmers for irrigated agricultural production. Analysis of potential gains and benefits suggests that direct purchase of solar pumps by farmers is feasible, and that out-grower schemes and pump supplier options with bundled financing offer promising solutions. The potential constraints that different investors may face in up-scaling the business models are also discussed, particularly within institutional, regulatory and financial contexts. The report provides development actors and investors with evidence-based information on the suitability and sustainability of solar pump irrigation in Ethiopia, as well as suggestions for helping to enable smallholders to invest in individually-owned, smallholder photovoltaic (PV) solar pumps.