Solar energy has emerged as the leading power source for agricultural irrigation in Pakistan, replacing diesel-powered tubewells and pumps that dominated the farming sector for decades.
According to the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the number of diesel-powered tubewells and lift pumps has declined by 36 percent since 2004, falling from 833,953 units to 530,500 units.
During the same period, Pakistan’s overall irrigation pump network nearly doubled, increasing by 97 percent to 1.83 million units. The growth was largely driven by the rapid adoption of solar-powered systems, which have become the country’s biggest source of energy for farm irrigation.
Solar-powered units, which were not recorded in the 2004 census, have now reached 959,865 units, accounting for around 52 percent of all tubewells and lift pumps in the country. These include 912,327 solar tubewells and 47,538 solar lift pumps.
Electric-powered irrigation systems have also expanded significantly, rising by 320 percent to 407,887 units. However, many farmers continue to face challenges due to electricity shortages and increasing power tariffs.
The shift toward solar has been driven largely by rising diesel prices and the long-term economic benefits of solar installations, which require an upfront investment but significantly reduce ongoing fuel costs.
Punjab has led the transition, with solar powering 862,238 tubewells compared to 331,059 diesel-powered units. In Sindh, solar tubewells have also surpassed diesel systems, with 36,246 solar units compared to 25,017 diesel units.
However, diesel remains dominant in areas with limited electricity access. In Balochistan, diesel powers 123,495 out of 151,394 tubewells, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also continues to rely heavily on diesel-powered irrigation systems.
The rapid expansion of solar irrigation has reduced farmers’ dependence on imported fuel, lowered operating costs, and protected agriculture from fuel price fluctuations. However, experts warn that the increased availability of low-cost pumping could put additional pressure on groundwater resources if water usage is not properly managed.
The transition marks one of Pakistan’s biggest energy shifts in agriculture, driven by farmers adopting renewable energy solutions to reduce costs and improve irrigation access.
