The growth and popularity of solar power have led to the development of various technologies that make use of it as a major source of power to meet various human needs and one of such technology is the solar water pump. A solar water pump runs on electricity generated from collected sunlight through the help of photovoltaic panels to power DC pumps mainly a submersible or surface pump, to pump groundwater or surface water into a storage tank for future use. The solar water pump is very important especially for those who are in remote areas or places without a reliable grid power. It is even more important for the development and improvement of the Agricultural sector.

The most important element for a farmer is the constant availability of water to either irrigate the farmland or feed livestock. Irrigation alone has been discovered to increase crop produce up to three times, however; irrigation requires a lot of energy. Currently, most farmers make use of diesel and electric pumps to run their various farmlands as both are the only technology they are familiar with. However, diesel-powered and electric pumps cause a lot of problems to farmers during operation. In most cases, they are highly unreliable, expensive and with negative environmental effects which could affect the growth of crops and livestock. Besides, the diesel-powered pumps burden farmers with high recurring expenditures on fuel which is not likely to reduce in the near future. This can take away a huge portion of profit which could have been used to further grow the farmland.

This lack of access to constant pumping solutions has affected the standard of living of most farmers; however, with the emergence of the solar water pump, the provision of a reliable and clean energy is assured. Solar water pumps are very cheap and easy to get when compared to traditional pump systems. They provide years of free supply of energy with no recurrent charges after the initial installment, to pump water for a period of over 21 years. The solar water pump equipment is lightweight so they can be easily moved to any farm location making them the best option for various farm settlements.

The solar water pump is also cost-effective because they require a very low operational and maintenance cost. They do not require fuel or diesel to become operational; they only require sunlight which is free. In terms of maintenance, a reliable and quality panel could run for 20-25 years with little or no maintenance. This creates an opportunity for increased savings and profits which could be used to further grow and acquire more farmlands, thus, improving the standard of living of the farmers.

Most importantly, a solar water pump is environmentally friendly because pumps powered by the traditional source of energy constantly pose threats to the environment by releasing harmful substances which creates issues such as global warming and other forms of environmental hazards which can affect the growth and development of crops and livestock on the farm. On the other hand, a solar-based water pump system does not discharge greenhouse gasses. Therefore an extensive use of solar water pumps would go a long way in reducing greenhouse emissions and make the farm a better and safe place to grow crops and raise animals.

Farmers make use of billions of liters of diesel and millions of coals yearly to support water pumping for irrigation. Imagine if 50% of these diesel pumps were replaced by solar PV pump systems, this would lead to a significant drop in the liters of diesel used by the farmers and this excess profit generated could be diverted into other sectors which will lead to growth and improvement in the lives of the farmers. Therefore, solar water pumps can provide real opportunities for users by increasing savings and profit which would enhance their growth and reduce the cost of accessing water as well as ensure availability of clean and reliable water for all the daily needs of a living being.