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A place in the sun: Farmers' co-benefits from solar irrigation in Bangladesh

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  • Buisson, Marie-Charlotte
  • Mitra, Archisman
  • Hounsa, Thierry
  • Habib, Md. Ahasan
  • Mukherji, Aditi

Abstract

Solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) are gradually replacing diesel pumps in relatively water-intensive agricultural production systems and geographies to reduce carbon emissions from food systems. However, beyond its climate change mitigation potential and fulfillment of Nationally Determined Contributions commitments, the adoption of solar irrigation also has direct co-benefits for farmers. Taking the case of Bangladesh and anchored on primary data collected among solar and diesel pump users, this article analyses the role access to solar irrigation has on household and farm-level outcomes. The propensity score matching and inverse probability matching approaches identify a positive effect of SIP access on food security and profitability from dry-season paddy for adopters. Different transmission channels are explored to explain these co-benefits. Lower costs of irrigation and labor are identified as the strongest pathways. This analysis strengthens the case for investments toward the solarization of agriculture in developing countries where it delivers significant development co-benefits in addition to climate change mitigation benefits. The valuation of the farmers' co-benefits, along with global climate mitigation impacts, also highlights the potential role of such programs toward climate justice.

Suggested Citation

  • Buisson, Marie-Charlotte & Mitra, Archisman & Hounsa, Thierry & Habib, Md. Ahasan & Mukherji, Aditi, 2024. "A place in the sun: Farmers' co-benefits from solar irrigation in Bangladesh," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:140:y:2024:i:c:s0140988324006819
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107973
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Solar irrigation; Co-benefits; Food security; Climate mitigation and adaptation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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