zuleika_fernandez

Cuban inventor who developed the first solar-powered irrigation system in Latin America

Zuleika Fernández (1905-1989) was a Cuban engineer whose groundbreaking work in renewable energy transformed agricultural practices in the Caribbean. Born in Santiago de Cuba, she studied mechanical engineering at the University of Havana - a rare achievement for women at the time. In the 1930s, she pioneered the development of solar-powered irrigation systems, creating a device that used parabolic mirrors to harness sunlight for pumping water. This innovation allowed small-scale farmers to irrigate crops without reliance on fossil fuels or electricity grids. Her system was adopted across Cuba's eastern provinces, doubling agricultural productivity in drought-prone regions. Fernández also invented a solar-powered food dehydrator that preserved harvests during Cuba's frequent shortages. Despite her technical achievements, she faced significant gender barriers - her patents were often registered under male colleagues' names. Her work forms the basis for modern solar irrigation technologies now used globally. The Zuleika Fernández Foundation continues promoting renewable energy solutions in developing countries today. Her 1947 memoir Light from the Sun remains a seminal text in sustainable engineering studies.