Solar-Powered Irrigation: Transforming Water Access for Farmers
A 20kW solar-powered pumping solution now delivers water from a main irrigation canal to another irrigation canal, enhancing access to irrigation water for a total of 700 local farmers. Located at the tail end of the canal, the benefiting farms previously suffered from drought and insufficient productivity. The solar pump replaces a large Diesel pump that was not only expensive to operate but also caused pollution and CO2 emissions.
An additional 10kW solar pump provides supplementary irrigation water from local wells, serving those farms not reached by the canal system. The enhanced water access from both solar irrigation projects will help increase agricultural production and farmers’ incomes, making a positive contribution to local food security.
Advancing Sustainable Farming Technologies in Delta Villages
The project also advanced sustainable farming technologies in the Delta villages. Based on successful greenhouse models designed and tested by GEBAL in locations across Egypt, GEBAL installed two greenhouses — a climate-controlled 640 m² greenhouse powered by solar PV, owned and operated by a local NGO, and a regular 320 m² greenhouse operated by local women. Both greenhouses produce vegetables such as cucumbers and bell peppers sold on the local market.
Empowering Women’s Entrepreneurship with Solar-Powered Incubators
Women’s entrepreneurship was further empowered through the establishment of a solar-powered chicken incubator project that offers capacity for producing 1,000 eggs every 21 days. Eggs are bought from local women at a price of 6-7 EGP per egg, while each hatched chicklet is sold for 12 EGP. This creates a profit margin of 5-6 EGP per egg, generating an income of 5,000-6,000 EGP every 21 days, benefiting local female entrepreneurs and their families.
Expanding Sustainability Efforts to Esbit Atteya
In a second phase, the successful project was extended into the village of Esbit Atteya, also located in Monufeya. Here, a 30kW solar pumping station pumps water from the main village canal to irrigate 200 acres of agricultural land previously serviced by Diesel pumps. The newly installed pump feeds the water through a 1.5 km long irrigation canal, which GEBAL lined to minimize water loss and maximize water use efficiency.
The project also advanced sustainable farming technologies in the Delta villages. Based on successful greenhouse models designed and tested by GEBAL in locations across Egypt, GEBAL installed two greenhouses — a climate-controlled 640 m² greenhouse powered by solar PV, owned and operated by a local NGO, and a regular 320 m² greenhouse operated by local women. Both greenhouses produce vegetables such as cucumbers and bell peppers sold on the local market.
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