May 9, 2016, Anand – Chief Minister of Gujarat, Smt Anandiben Patel awarded a certificate of appreciation to the Dhundi Saur Urja Utpadak Sahakari Mandali (DSUUSM) at the launch of the 2016 edition of Krushi Mahotsav or Agriculture Festival in Anand, Gujarat today.
The Mandali which holds the distinction of being the world’s first solar Irrigation cooperative is being felicitated for providing to its members risk-free climate smart income from energy sales to the local DISCOM. The idea of Solar Pump Irrigators’ Cooperative Enterprise (SPICE) was developed by the IWMI-Tata Water Policy Research Program (ITP), a partnership between the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and the Tata Trusts with support from the CGIAR’s Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). IWMI had successfully piloted a single farmer SPaRC (Solar Power as Remunerative Crop) model in Anand district last year in which the farmer’s solar irrigation pump was connected to the electricity grid presenting him with the choice to sell the surplus power generated when the fields are not being irrigated. The idea has now been further refined and institutionalized with the formation of Dhundi Solar Pump Irrigators’ Cooperative Enterprise.
Population pressure and increasing water competition in a changing climate require us to take stock of the availability and use of water across scales. Water availability not only influences farmers’ commercial prospects but also irrigation-related enterprises and agri-businesses. Greater water scarcity could jeopardize irrigation and agricultural markets while excessive water use can lead to declining ecosystems, water quality and soil health. IWMI advises development partners and the public and private sectors on all aspects of water resource availability and use through a variety of advanced modeling and remote-sensing products and tools, including 
The ability of farmers to engage in or expand irrigation depends on the prevailing socioeconomic, ecological and political contexts, which are often complex, non-linear and changeable. Overcoming systemic barriers to farmer-led irrigation development while taking advantage of existing opportunities 
A lack of affordable credit, particularly for women and resource-poor farmers, is one of the main barriers to expanding farmer-led irrigation in low- and middle-income countries. But 
Scaling farmer-led irrigation requires strengthening human capacity and knowledge exchange among all actors and stakeholders involved. IWMI takes an action research approach, working with national and international research institutions, governments, extension agents and public and private organizations to co-develop the scaling ecosystem and strengthen capacity to drive scaling networks and collective action. We support the