World · Asia-Pacific · published 2026-10-09 · via fundsforNGOs News

Bangladesh trains extension officers to expand solar irrigation

IWMI and Bangladesh’s Department of Agricultural Extension held workshops for frontline staff under the SoLAR Phase II project, supported by Switzerland’s SDC. The training aims to help farmers adopt, maintain, and troubleshoot solar irrigation pumps as Bangladesh seeks to reduce reliance on diesel groundwater pumping. IWMI says the country irrigates over 7.9 million hectares and that most of its roughly 1.6 million groundwater pumps are diesel-powered.

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In August 2026, IWMI and Bangladesh’s DAE ran two workshops under SoLAR Phase II, backed by SDC. They gathered SAAOs and agricultural engineers from six districts—Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Jashore, Jhenaidah, and Chuadanga—plus community officers from RDRS, ESDO, and Jagarani Chakra Foundation. Sessions mixed classroom instruction with visits to operating solar pumps.

Bangladesh irrigates over 7.9 million hectares; roughly 1.6 million groundwater pumps exist, about 80% diesel. One farmer’s solar pump, installed six years ago via fee-for-service with Gramin

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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “IWMI and Bangladesh’s Department of Agricultural Extension train 13,000+ frontline officers to scale solar irrigation under SoLAR Phase II supported by SDC.” Browse more stories.