𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐈𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐰𝐨𝐠

…𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓-𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅

By Kinzang Lhamo

Water scarcity has long posed a significant challenge to the agricultural community in Bali Chiwog, Punakha. Despite the area’s fertile land, the lack of reliable and consistent irrigation has left a large portion of farmland uncultivated. Farmers have struggled to grow crops throughout the year due to drying water sources and unpredictable weather patterns, leading to reduced yields and declining agricultural income. Many have been forced to seek alternative livelihoods.

A new initiative, however, is renewing hope among farmers. On April 24, a solar lift irrigation system was officially launched in Bali Chiwog. The system is designed to pump water from the Mochhu River to elevated farmland using solar energy, offering a sustainable solution to the community’s long-standing water problems.

Jimba Gyeltshen, Gup of Chhubu Gewog said, “This project has the potential to transform the lives of our people. Previously, about 30 percent of our wetland remained unused. But with this system, we expect to irrigate the entire area. Farmers can increase their agricultural income once the project is fully operational.”

Bali Chiwog, comprising 33 households and covering 110 acres of farmland, has faced difficulties due to its hilly terrain, which renders gravity-fed irrigation systems ineffective. The new system is expected to deliver water consistently to higher elevation fields, regardless of seasonal fluctuations in weather.

“We were informed that we will receive irrigated water within two and a half months. I believe this will benefit everyone,” said Phurba, the local Tshogpa.

The solar lift system is designed to facilitate timely irrigation, which has often been disrupted in the past. Farmers frequently hire laborers during cultivation seasons, but due to unreliable water supply, delays have resulted in idle labor and financial losses.

“When water did not arrive on time, the workers we hired couldn’t proceed with their tasks,” said Namgay Bidha, a local farmer. “That meant wasted money and effort. With this system, I believe we will be able to plant on schedule, grow quality crops, and manage our farms more efficiently.”

The impact of water shortages has gone beyond economic loss, affecting the community’s confidence in farming and their resilience to climate change. Uncertainty over irrigation has discouraged many from investing in agriculture, with land often left fallow during critical periods.

“This system is not just about water,” said Damcho Zam, another farmer. “It brings hope. When I heard we were getting solar lift irrigation, I felt that everything would finally fall into place. We have faced so many challenges because of water shortages.”

She added, “In the past, all our hard work would go to waste when the land dried up. Now, we believe that this system will finally help us succeed.”

The Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTFEC) is supporting the project, in collaboration with the Chhubu Gewog Administration. The total project budget is Nu. 9.57 million, with BTFEC contributing Nu. 8.97 million and the gewog providing Nu. 600,000.

Leki Tshewang, Program Officer at BTFEC, emphasized the potential of the project as a scalable solution for rural Bhutan. “This initiative is promising. Similar projects have been piloted in places like Shaba in Paro and Khawajara in Punakha. We hope to see more such technologies adopted across the country.”

He noted that the agricultural land in Bali has remained underutilized due to a lack of dependable irrigation. With the new system in place, farmers are eager to grow vegetables year-round, including during the dry winter months.
“The technology uses solar panels positioned to capture maximum sunlight, even in winter. It’s a climate-resilient approach to irrigation that could be replicated in other parts of the country,” he added.

Beyond improving crop yields, the solar lift irrigation system is also expected to have social benefits. Community members hope it will reinvigorate youth, women, and children’s involvement in farming activities, reducing outmigration and fostering a renewed interest in agriculture.

As Bali Chiwog awaits the full operation of the system in the coming months, the community’s optimism is palpable. The solar lift irrigation project represents not only a technological innovation but also a pathway toward sustainable agriculture and improved livelihoods. It offers a model that could help Bhutan’s rural communities adapt to changing climate conditions while securing food production and economic resilience.

“This is an important step forward for our community,” said Gup Jimba Gyeltshen. “We are optimistic about its potential to transform agriculture and improve lives in Bali Chiwog.”