Solar-Powered Irrigation Empowers Women Farmers in Punakha

PUNAKHA: A renewable energy project in Punakha is helping women farmers take a greater role in agricultural technology through solar-powered irrigation. Women make up more than half of Bhutan’s agricultural workforce, but they have traditionally had limited involvement in decisions about technologies used in farming. The new solar-powered irrigation initiative aims to change this by placing women at the centre of agricultural innovation. The system uses solar energy to provide water for farming, reducing dependence on conventional energy sources while making irrigation more accessible to farmers. For women farmers, the technology can reduce the time and effort required to irrigate their fields and potentially improve agricultural productivity. The initiative also highlights the importance of involving women when introducing new technologies in rural communities. By giving women greater access to and control over agricultural technology, the project contributes to both women’s emporement and sustainable farming.