Tanzanian Mango Farmers Find Hope in Solar Power

A case study by the World Resources Institute on the impact of solar-powered water pumps on mango farmers in the Chamwino district of Tanzania, highlighting production increases and income growth alongside remaining structural and technical challenges.

• The transition from diesel to solar-powered water pumps in Chamwino significantly increased mango production and farmer incomes between 2021 and 2022. Average yields rose from approximately 40 fruits per tree to 97, with those using drip irrigation reaching over 120 fruits per tree. Monthly average incomes from mango sales nearly doubled, increasing from approximately TZS 150,00 (US$56) to TZS 297,000 (US$112).
• Solar pumps provided substantial operational cost savings for the AMCOS cooperative and individual farmers. The cooperative saved over TZS 2.3 million (US$900) annually on fuel and maintenance compared to the previous diesel pump. Additionally, drip irrigation reduced labor costs for watering to nearly zero.
• Despite the benefits, the solar irrigation system has not met its full potential due to technical failures and capacity limits. Clogged pipes and insufficient storage have prevented the system from covering the intended 200 acres, leading some farmers to abandon mango farming.
• Broader structural and environmental challenges persist in Tanzania, including severe water stress and market limitations. Tanzania has experienced seven significant droughts in the last 15 years. Farmers' financial growth is further limited by a lack of processing facilities and a heavy reliance on local buyers.

APA

World Resources Institute (2025). Tanzanian Mango Farmers Find Hope in Solar Power. https://www.wri.org/insights/solar-pumps-mango-production-chamwino-tanzania

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Tanzanian Mango Farmers Find Hope in Solar Power. 2025. https://www.wri.org/insights/solar-pumps-mango-production-chamwino-tanzania.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Tanzanian Mango Farmers Find Hope in Solar Power |date=4 March 2025 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/solar-pumps-mango-production-chamwino-tanzania |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2025tanzanian, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Tanzanian Mango Farmers Find Hope in Solar Power}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/solar-pumps-mango-production-chamwino-tanzania}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }