Solar-powered drip-irrigation for rural Bangladesh

Technologies have advanced to serve humanity and food is one of the primary and basic need of human being. More than 80% of people in Bangladesh depend on agriculture, directly or indirectly. However, proper irrigation by water pump cannot be maintained due to frequent power outages, unavailability of grid lines in remote areas and scarcity/cost of fuel to run pumps. This paper shows the viability of drip irrigation system, the most water-efficient method of irrigation, and the use of solar panel to drive the drip-irrigation process. Calculations show that a medium-sized 40W panel can serve drip-irrigation for an acre (4000 square-meter) of land. This paper also outlines an unconventional method to track the sun manually for optimum output. Finally, this paper highlights other uses of the energy generated by solar panels in non-irrigation periods and the effect it has on improving the quality of life for rural Bangladesh.