Solar irrigation Malawi: Unique 2024 SADC Recognition

A Malawian company, Orifice Irrigation and Water Supply Ltd, has earned prestigious recognition for its work in solar-powered irrigation, highlighting the vital role of decentralized renewable energy in agricultural transformation. The company was celebrated as one of four regional trailblazers during the 2026 SADC Sustainable Energy Week (SADC SEW), an event hosted in Zimbabwe by the government in partnership with the SADC Secretariat and the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE).

The award acknowledges the company’s significant impact on rural communities where energy access remains a critical barrier. By deploying solar-powered water and irrigation systems, Orifice Irrigation directly supports small-scale producers, aligning with Malawi’s national policy to promote solar technologies in agriculture and the broader SADC vision for sustainable development. These off-grid solutions are instrumental in enhancing food security, boosting agricultural productivity, and improving livelihoods far from conventional power grids.

Charting a Sustainable Energy Course with Solar irrigation Malawi: Unique 2024 SADC Recognition

The SADC SEW served as a crucial forum for regional leaders to address persistent energy challenges. SADC Executive Secretary H.E. Elias M. Magosi acknowledged progress, noting that regional electricity access has reached 56%. However, he also emphasized the need to overcome significant financing gaps and power shortages that hinder development. The recognition of innovators like Orifice Irrigation underscores the importance of community-level solutions in achieving universal energy access.

In response to these challenges, the SADC Secretariat unveiled the 2026 SADC SEW Outcome Statement, which provides a strategic framework for the region’s energy future. Key priorities outlined in the statement include:

• Accelerating the implementation of critical energy interconnectors to strengthen the regional grid.
• Pursuing universal energy access by 2030 through a strategic combination of grid and off-grid technologies.
• Harmonizing regional policies to attract greater private sector investment in the energy sector.
• Scaling up the deployment of solar thermal technologies and promoting comprehensive energy efficiency measures.
• Launching dedicated programs to ensure the active participation of women and youth in the energy transition.

As Zimbabwe concluded its successful hosting of the event, the responsibility for the 2027 SADC SEW was passed to the Kingdom of Eswatini. The celebration of Orifice Irrigation and Water Supply Ltd sends a clear message: the future of energy in Southern Africa depends not only on large-scale infrastructure projects but also on the ingenuity of ground-level enterprises that empower communities and build a resilient, sustainable future from the ground up.

Sources

1. [PDF] national agriculture policy | 2024 – DCAFS & TIPDeP
2. [PDF] MALAWI Agriculture Public Expenditure Review
3. [PDF] Consolidated Report for EAC and SADC Regions on Assessment of …
4. [PDF] Scaling Irrigation for Small-scale Producers: the Role of Private …
5. The Ministry of Agriculture is pleased to announce the 2023/2024 …
6. [PDF] SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP …