Back to news
28 Jul 2016 | Livelihoods

Solar Water Pumping from Hunza River Enhances Local Livelihoods

1 min Read

70% Complete

A solar pumping system to irrigate the newly developed orchards along the Hunza River using drip irrigation in Upper Gojal, Gilgit-Baltistan. It is the first attempt to pilot solar water pumping and micro-irrigation in the arid region under project ‘Agricultural Water, Energy and Hazard Management in the Upper Indus Basin for Improved Livelihood’. The solar water pumping and micro-irrigation systems used in this project are low cost and reliable and will enhance the local livelihoods through high-value orchard production. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in collaboration with Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and local communities piloted the solar pump lift irrigation system.

PV panels to lift water from the Hunza River at Sost, Upper Gojal.

This activity is ongoing in villages of Upper Gojal — two six-acre orchards using drip irrigation, one a cherry and apple orchard in Passu village and the other an apple orchard in Morkhun village. The wetted perimeter of plant pits will also be used to grow seasonal vegetables. Under this activity, the locals are also being trained to install the technology in the region.

Local youth receive hands-on training on the installation of drip irrigation.

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related contents

Continue exploring this topic

11 Feb 2019 Water
2nd Regional Upper Indus Basin Network (UIB-N) Workshop

Glaciers in the upper reaches of the Indus River basin are an important source of freshwater. However, as climate change ...

5 Aug 2022 News
Supporting the Kamala Basin Water Resources Development Strategy implementation project

On 17 May 2022, we held a hybrid inception meeting to strengthen the development, planning, and implementation of the

Cross learning within the HKH: women restore barren land in Passu Valley with sea buckthorn

Process The Passu valley was once bountiful. The Khunjerab and Shimshal rivers gradually eroded their banks, posing a very real threat ...

17 Nov 2015 News
Recovery and Resilience in Nepal

Journalist training workshop investigates earthquake recovery, climate change John Crump, senior science writer with GRID-Arendal, recollects his experiences from ...

Waste management, sustainable tourism, and the quest to become India’s cleanest village

With support from the Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KLCDI) at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), ...

17 Mar 2015 Atmosphere Initiative
Conference on alternatives to open agricultural burning

To discuss the extent to which open burning of agricultural residue and waste causes black carbon emissions and to explore ...

25 Dec 2015 News
ICIMOD Scientists Contribute to Managing Energy, Water and Food Security Challenges in Pakistan

The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) organized the 31st Annual General Meeting and Conference of the 

Towards improved management of Yarsagumba in Api Nampa Conservation Area

Yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), a highly prized Himalayan herb, is commonly known as caterpillar fungus and grows naturally in the northern ...