This paper proposes a stand-alone Photovoltaic (PV) system designed for water pumping applications. PV-based pumping systems without batteries are currently economically viable solutions to efficiently harness solar energy. They serve purposes such as irrigation and drinking water supply, especially in remote areas. The operating characteristics of PV sources exhibit non-linearity and are heavily reliant on environmental factors. To ensure optimal functionality, the implementation of efficient Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control is imperative. In this context, we propose an improved MPPT technique, which combines the classical ‘perturb and observe’ (P&O) algorithm and sliding mode control (SMC) technique. The water pumping is ensured by a moto-pump system using an induction motor (IM) and a centrifugal pump (CP). The CP control is ensured by means of a PI controller. To evaluate the performance of the proposed system, some simulations are conducted under Matlab/Simulink.