By Moaaz Manzoor

Pakistan’s irrigation machinery profile is changing, with the Agricultural Census 2024 recording 959,865 solar-powered tubewells and lift pumps, while diesel-powered units declined by 36% compared with the Agricultural Machinery Census 2004.

According to the Agricultural Census 2024 National Report of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, available with Wealth Pakistan, the number of tubewells and lift pumps rose from 931,048 in 2004 to 1.832 million in 2024, showing an increase of 97%.

The shift matters because irrigation is one of the largest cost centres for farmers. Rising diesel prices, unreliable electricity access and climate-related water stress have made the choice of irrigation power sources increasingly important for farm profitability and water management.

The census shows that the number of diesel-powered tubewells and lift pumps declined 36% from 833,953 in 2004 to 530,500 in 2024. Electric units increased 320% from 97,095 to 407,887 during the same period.

Solar-powered units were not reported in the 2004 machinery census, but the 2024 census recorded 959,865 solar tubewells and lift pumps. The report also recorded 20,038 petrol-powered units and 23,187 units under other sources.

This change indicates that farmers are increasingly turning to alternative energy sources for irrigation. Solar pumps can reduce operating costs where sunlight is available and fuel access is expensive, though they also require upfront investment and proper groundwater management.

The census also shows that tubewells increased 93% from 912,654 in 2004 to 1.757 million in 2024. Lift pumps increased from 18,391 to 74,773, showing a 307% increase.

Among different types of water-lifting machinery, submersible pumps recorded the sharpest increase. Their number skyrocketed 2,316%from 11,215 in 2004 to 270,989 in 2024. Turbine tubewells increased from 29,583 to 318,750, while wells with pumps rose from 18,398 to 183,777.

Centrifugal tubewells remained the largest category, increasing from 853,458 in 2004 to 983,943 in 2024, but their growth rate was much lower at 15%.

The data points to a major transformation in Pakistan’s irrigation machinery base. Farmers are not only using more tubewells and pumps, but are also shifting towards new types of equipment and power sources, which may reshape the agricultural system.

Credit: INP-WealthPk