To address irrigation challenges of smallholder farmers, HortiFresh has introduced the solar irrigation pilot project under its access to finance component. Given the high prices for fuel, erratic electricity supply as well as recent developments with the efficiency of solar technology, solar irrigation provides an excellent solution to the irrigation challenges of smallholder vegetable farmers. This solution ensures farmers undertake all-year farming once a water source exists.  

HortiFresh and PEG Ghana Solar Limited are piloting the solar irrigation project to test the systems and a pay-as-you go payment package. 10 farmers have been selected within vegetable hotspots in Keta, Denu, Takoradi and Accra to participate. HortiFresh is supporting this project with a 30% subsidy to the selected 10 pilot farmers while PEG Ghana are technical partners and also providing a 6 to 18 months payment period for 50% of the cost. The pilot farmers are contributing an initial 20% deposit for the system. So far, 7 installations have been completed with 4 in Keta/Woe, 2 in Takoradi and 1 in Accra with 3 more installations yet to take place in Denu. For the next months, the project partners (HortiFresh and PEG) will closely monitor the pilot. Once the pilot is successful, the project can be scaled up so smallholder farmers throughout Ghana can benefit