Challenge
For small and medium-sized farmers in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal, watering crops can be a challenge. Irrigation solutions such as diesel and solar-powered pumping exist, but are not sustainable, requiring constant repairs, refueling, or large upfront investments. Simple solutions are needed to help farmers keep crops watered.
Solution
aQysta’s Barsha pump is a low-cost, innovative solution for smallholder farmers to irrigate their fields without using any fuel or electricity. The hydro-powered pump is easily implemented anywhere there is flowing water nearby and requires little maintenance.
Milestones and Achievements
To date, aQysta has reached 241 end users with its hydro-pump technology. The innovator has installed 5 Barsha pumps across Nepal in diverse socioeconomic conditions. In Year 2, aQysta hopes to install 40 new pumps. Additionally, the innovator has leveraged more than $200,000 in outside funding, and has seen a profit margin of 21%.
Goals
- Counsel on aQysta’s overall business model in order to identify the most optimal path to scale.
- Help collaborating with USAID’s Nepal projects and help positioning the pump technology to local farmers.
- Recommendations on connecting with relevant investor audiences such as venture funds, impact funds, and family foundations.
- Support in developing a micro-financing option model to approach micro-financing institutions.
- Help in designing a complete irrigation and pump system for packaged sales.
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