Farmers in three upazilas of Manikganj District in Bangladesh are facing rising irrigation costs as several solar-powered irrigation projects remain non-functional, forcing them to depend on diesel amid an ongoing fuel shortage and price pressure.
Introduced nearly a decade ago to reduce dependence on diesel and cut irrigation costs, most of the solar pump projects have now fallen into disrepair due to poor maintenance, weak management and technical failures, farmers and agriculture officials said.
In Singair Upazila’s Rasulpur Village, a solar irrigation pump installed in 2016 with support from a Korean organisation has remained out of operation for years after its solar panels were reportedly stolen at night. Locals said no effective steps were taken to restore the system.
Farmers in the area said the project initially benefited the community by providing low-cost irrigation for nearby farmland, but later became completely inactive as the management committee also stopped functioning.
A similar situation has been reported in Harirampur Upazila’s Merundi area, where another solar pump has remained idle.
In Ghior Upazila, a Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) project worth Tk20.6 lakh has also remained non-operational for around five years. The system was designed to irrigate about 70 bighas of land and benefit over 100 farmers, but has failed to function since installation.
Although pipes were installed, no water has been supplied from the system, forcing farmers to rely on diesel and electric pumps for Boro cultivation and other crops.
Local farmers said that they are now struggling due to limited diesel availability and rising fuel prices, while private solar irrigation systems in nearby areas are reportedly functioning successfully.
Agriculture officials acknowledged that lack of monitoring, technical support and maintenance has contributed to the failure of multiple projects. They said reports have been sent to higher authorities for action.
Experts have urged urgent repair of inactive systems and stronger oversight, saying solar irrigation remains a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution if properly managed.
