Using Renewable Energy to Kickstart Agriculture (UREKA) in Achham

The project

In the remote hills of Nepal, communities are faced with increasing pressure to generate agricultural income through unreliable access to water. Women and girls are taking the burden for collecting water for basic household needs from hard to reach sources. This situation forces men and children to migrate in search of different work, which increases the workload for the women and girls even more.

Unica Foundation and the Renewable World will be coming together to undertake the project UREKA, which aims to transform this situation for 495 households (2,723 individuals) in five of the poorest and hardest to reach communities in Achham district. By using proven solar water pumping technology, water access and climate-smart agriculture as catalysts for improvement in food security, incomes and sanitation and hygiene will be improved. Through strengthening the capacity of agricultural cooperatives in the target area, up to 1,730 households (9,146 individuals) will benefit from additional agricultural services.

This irrigation project is the second project in which Unica Foundation cooperates with Renewable World, after the Solar MUS III project in Surkhet district. The project consists of 5 elements:

1. Five solar pump / lift systems for water including irrigation channels for arable land located on higher, hard-to-reach mountain sides.
2. Water is shared fairly among 5 communities
3. 495 households are better able to keep livestock and/or agriculture
4. Three cooperations will support farmers, which results in benefits for more households
5. 495 households receive education in water management and hygiene.

The installation is constructed and equipped with solar panels for the required energy.

UREKA contributes directly to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s):

• SDG 1 – No Poverty
• SDG 2 – Zero Hunger
• SDG 5 Gender Equality
• SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 13 – Climate Action.

It also contributes indirectly to the following SDG’s: (3) Good Health & Wellbeing, (4) Quality Education, (15) Life on Land and (16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Milestones

Undertake Pre-feasibility and detailed feasibility study and develop detailed design and cost estimate for all construction work associated with solar water pumping systems/ other renewable energy technology if appropriate and distribution lines in 5 communities

Three sites have been confirmed as technically feasible (Timilsain, Sallena and Totkesaal), with one of these sites being confirmed as fully funded after achieving financial closure (Timilsain). Ongoing negotiations are underway to achieve financial closure in the other two technically feasible sites. Detailed feasibility is underway at a fourth site, Jayakot and a decision has been taken not to continue in a fifth site, Tidhurukh. Both sites are in the DWSSO plan but, due to the expansion of the proposed household reach in Tidhurukh from 80 to 235 households, it is no longer feasible to achieve financial closure in this site and to deliver the solar water lifting system in the time remaining to the project.

Support 5 communities to select technical partners through competitive bidding process for solar pumping system

Following a competitive tender and evaluation, Sunfarmer was awarded the contract to install the electro-mechanical components of the solar water lifting system in Timilsain with a 2- month contract period.

Support construction of civil infrastructure, distribution system, and water filtration system

• Timilsain – The installation of the solar water lifting system was recently completed at Timilsain. The system is designed to lift around 52,000 litres of water a day but is not yet pumping at optimal levels. This will be rectified shortly, and water quality testing will be conducted before water is supplied for drinking.
• Sallena – construction at Sallena is progressing with the completion of a 50m3 service reservoir tank in the last quarter. The project engineer and technical supervisor provided technical support to the Water User Committee (WUC) during the construction.

Establish/ revitalise and register Water User Committees in each project site, with a legal status of their own

The WUC at Sallena has been newly reformed and has applied for registration at Bannegadhi Jayagadh Rural Municipality.

Demonstrate user friendly, cost effective and inclusive agricultural technology through training at community and household level across 5 communities

The Project Team conducted regular follow up visits with the 11 farmers’ groups on growing summer vegetables. The farmers are utilising summer vegetable seeds and have produced cucumbers, courgettes, bitter gourds, cowpeas, beans, lady’s fingers etc. Most of the farmers have established a kitchen garden and some have already been able to sell surplus produce.