Landscape Assessment of Renewable Energy-Powered Lift Irrigation Systems in Bhutan

Agriculture is the backbone of Bhutan’s rural communities, sustaining livelihoods and safeguarding food security for generations. Yet, as climate variability intensifies and traditional rainfed systems become increasingly unreliable, our farming communities face unprecedented challenges—declining yields, decreasing crop diversity, and unstable incomes. Renewable energy-powered lift irrigation systems emerge as a transformative solution - one that simultaneously addresses water security, climate resilience, and inclusive development while supporting Bhutan's carbon-neutrality commitments.

This Landscape Assessment of Renewable Energy-Powered Lift Irrigation Systems in Bhutan offers a multidimensional examination of the sector, providing stakeholders with: • A comprehensive status assessment of existing systems • Critical analysis of technical, financial, and governance barriers • Identification of market needs and environmental considerations • Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) perspectives • Policy and institutional framework evaluation • Practical and scalable recommendations for sustainable adoption.

The development of this report has been a collaborative effort led by the Department of Energy, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, with support from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).