A network of solar irrigation pumps equipped with sensors that connect to the Internet will potentially provide a world first database of groundwater usage in sub-Saharan Africa.

Because of high rainfall variability African farmers are becoming more reliant on groundwater, the only reliable source of water for irrigation. IWMI have developed an online water information platform which will provide near real-time information on water withdrawal, irrigated areas and energy use across the continent.

One of four winners of the 2019 CGIAR Inspire Challenge, IWMI’s REAL-GUD (Real-time East Africa live groundwater use database) project has moved forward in its quest to capitalise on Internet of Things (IoT) technology for these purposes, starting with a case study in Kenya.

The resulting data can be used by farmers to better understand where they can sustainably use solar irrigation and by policy makers to better manage groundwater resources.

Solar irrigation pumps offer a sustainable solution, particularly in comparison with diesel pumps, but with near zero operational costs there is the potential for overuse of valuable water resources.

REAL-GUD partners with Futurepump, a provider of solar irrigation technology. Futurepump’s solar pumps incorporate data loggers, which measure the amount of energy used, and when.

With the projected rapid spread of solar irrigation, IWMI researchers are particularly interested in finding out which land is most suitable for solar irrigation and how solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) will impact  groundwater resources and the connected water, agricultural, energy, and environmental systems.

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Click here to see the latest updates from the “Real-time East Africa groundwater use database” project.