Building gender-responsive policies

Policies fail to address gender inequalities if they are developed with a ‘gender-neutral’ mindset.

An increasingly common sight in the lush fields of southern Nepal is the glinting of solar panels in sunlight. Farmers have been introduced to solar irrigation through both government and development partner efforts, and further through each other as several became early adopters of the technology. Solar irrigation pumps (SIPs), a clean and profitable alternative to diesel pumps, are particularly useful in areas that receive high radiation and have little access to electricity. Its use provides opportunities for greater yield , crop diversification and reduced cost of water pumping in the long run.