In May 2016, nine farmers became solar entrepreneurs and launched DSEPCS, which transformed their lives. “We used to spend Rs 25,000 a year on the diesel-run pump to fetch water for farms. After installing the solar grid panels in the farms, we are earning Rs 65,000 a year through clean energy while also saving money,” Pravin parmar, secretary of DSEPCS.
DSEPCS was a pilot project created as part of a field research by the International Water Management Institute (IWIM). IWIM has invested Rs 46 lakh on the project while farmers chipped in Rs 4.65 lakh to fund the installation of 56.4 kWp solar capacity. At present there are 18 such different capacity solar panels.
In early 2016, the farmers conducted a novel experiment to not only run their irrigation pumps but also to pool the surplus energy to sell to the Madhya Gujarat Vidyut Company (MGVCL) at Rs 4.63/unit under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
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
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