By Ndumiso Tshuma
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is leading efforts to integrate renewable energy into Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of farming while promoting long-term sustainability.
UNDP Project Manager Solomon Mutambara said the agency has introduced solar-powered pumping systems across the country to achieve two key goals: cutting carbon emissions and lowering irrigation costs.
“We are using renewable energy in agriculture to minimise the trade-offs between agricultural development and environmental sustainability,” Mutambara said. “By installing solar pumping systems, we are reducing both carbon emissions and production costs in irrigation schemes.”
Over the past three years, solar energy has become the primary power source for UNDP-supported agricultural projects, with the national electricity grid serving only as a backup.
“For most of the developments over the past three years, solar has been the main energy source for pumping, with the grid used only as a fallback when solar isn’t available,” he explained.
In response to climate change and increasingly dry conditions, UNDP has also promoted the adoption of drip irrigation systems to improve water-use efficiency.
“With climate patterns shifting and drought becoming more frequent, we are encouraging water-efficient systems such as drip irrigation to adapt to these drier conditions,” said Mutambara.
UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative, Lealem Dinku, highlighted the economic advantages of renewable energy in agriculture, stating that the focus is on using it for productive purposes within communities.
“From an economic standpoint, our priority is renewable energy that enhances productivity,” he said. “In areas where water is available, communities are now running businesses. We’ve seen enterprises emerge directly from access to renewable energy.”
Dinku added that UNDP is committed to community involvement, noting that the agency takes a development-focused rather than a charitable approach.
“We engage communities through consultation. Our approach is development-oriented—not charity,” he said. “Even if local water associations can’t contribute financially, they can participate in other meaningful ways. We don’t give handouts; we foster self-reliance to break cycles of dependency.”