Zimbabwe is preparing for the possibility of another severe drought, with weather forecasts pointing to an enhanced El Niño pattern in the coming months.

The country has suffered repeated droughts linked to El Niño, affecting crop production, water supplies and livelihoods.

As rainfall becomes less reliable, some farmers are turning to solar-powered irrigation to reduce their dependence on electricity generated from hydropower.

In Mbare, a busy market in southern Harare, farmer Jacob Nenzou is shopping for a solar panel, water pump and pipes to set up an irrigation system.

"There is a river running near my plot so I want to draw water from it and irrigate my crops because I have learned that I can't rely on rainfall anymore." Jacob Nenzou says.

For small-scale farmers, solar-powered irrigation can provide an alternative source of energy for pumping water when grid electricity is unreliable.

Much of the solar equipment sold in the market is manufactured in China, where increased production has helped bring down prices.

Government reductions and exemptions on duties and taxes for some solar equipment have also made the technology more affordable. Household solar installations range from about $500 for small systems to around $10,000 for fully off-grid setups.

“It used to be a huge investment to install a solar system, but the prices have been reduced considerably. At the same time, quality has improved. We anticipate the prices will come down even more,” according to Russell Mutami, a trader.

For Zimbabwean farmers, solar-powered irrigation is becoming one of the ways to adapt to increasingly erratic rainfall and protect agricultural production and livelihoods.