Subsistence staple food crops are generally grown under rainfed conditions. Consequently there is a growing interest in complementing this risky rainfed food production with cultivation of high-value vegetable crops and fruits.
But in most cases this means these small-scale vegetable gardens and orchards must be irrigated in order to assure an economic return. Drip irrigation methods minimize the non-productive water losses associated with conventional irrigation, e. But until recently drip irrigation technology had been associated with costly investments available only to large commercial farmers.
Now there is growing interest in the technique and many efforts are being made around the world to develop low-cost, simple, drip irrigation systems suitable for smallholder farmers. This handbook presents some of these drip irrigation options that can be promoted by extension officers in eastern and southern Africa. It describes the most interesting small-scale low-cost drip irrigation methods of which the author and the other contributors have practical experience.
It also gives a brief overview of methods that have been used successfully in other parts of the world with details of how to obtain further information about them or order equipment. The drought of and the famine that followed in politically instable Somalia highlighted the vulnerability of the lowlands of the Horn of Africa. It is a story revisited with high frequency — , , and Climate variability is easily mentioned as the main attributing factor.
Clearly it is — but there is also extensive land use change, because of the widespread invasion of invasive species prosopis in particular and the decimation of natural wood stands for charcoal production particularly in Somalia. In the Afar lowlands in Ethiopia food aid has become part of the livelihoods, with most of the people dependent on it — including reportedly middle class families.
There is a growing realization that water resource development — appropriate to the context — has to have a place in addressing food insecurity in the Horn of Africa. This paper focuses on irrigation policy and practice in the arid lowlands of the Horn that have been hit hardest and most frequent in the drought episodes.
There are presently no formal guidelines for the use of greywater in South Africa. This paper presents the rationale and framework of a guidance document for the sustainable use of greywater to irrigate gardens and small-scale agriculture in South Africa, developed under the auspices of the Water Research Commission. This book is written for practitioners, researchers and graduate students in environmental and public health, sanitary and agricultural engineering, and wastewater irrigation management in developing countries.
In particular, it should be useful for all those working to assess and mitigate health risks from the use of wastewater and faecal sludge in agriculture, under conditions where wastewater treatment is absent or inadequate to safeguard public health.
Responses were analysed to determine the technological, socioeconomic and cultural suitability of the systems. The survey focuses on the determinants of success and failure and identifies knowledge gaps that influenced either adoption or disadoption by beneficiaries. A cost-effectiveness analysis is also undertaken to compare drip kits with traditional bucket irrigation.
Finally, the study draws some conclusions and lessons that can be extrapolated beyond Zimbabwe to ensure that interventions aimed at smallholder-irrigated gardens have more sustainable impacts. This paper analyses solar-powered drip irrigation as a strategy for enhancing food security in the rural Sudano—Sahel region of West Africa.
This paper aims to fill a research gap in India by focusing on adoption patterns of micro irrigation and the economic impacts on farm households. This study is based on primary and secondary data collected from nine states. It seeks to establish a relationship between landholding size, area under micro-irrigation, and net benefits. Farmers' suggestions for making micro irrigation more accessible are also noted. Despite its proven benefits, micro-irrigation has been slow to realise its potential in India.
Following the recommendations of the Micro-irrigation task force in , a tiered set of subsidies was put into place for micro-irrigation. The models set up in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have been considered the most successful. This paper compares these two models using several parameters and comes up with a set of recommendations for replication elsewhere.
The study aimed at assessing the feasibility of using urine as a fertilizer and drip irrigation technology to address food scarcity that has hit Uganda as a country of late. The study revealed high rates of return for a farmer who chooses to practice drip irrigation and fertigation. This however gives best results with effective disease control. This PDF-presentation shows photos of drip system components and installations in Nepal.
Simple low-cost drip irrigation is practical and affordable for smallholder farmers. It has been successfully used in India and is becoming more popular in other southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. This chapter drip irrigation manual provides basic, step-by-step procedures for installing simple drip irrigation systems for different crops, climates, and soils.
This website is an attempt to distil current information on irrigation methods that might be appropriate, and to offer some ideas on the possible adoption and adaptation of such methods by small-scale farmers in the semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
This variation on the drip irrigation technique is called trickle tape. The greatest benefit of any type of drip irrigation is the control that these methods provide. In addition, these irrigation techniques are highly economical and precise. For example, the amount of water that a typical lawn sprinkler uses is measured in gallons per minute -- the standard sprinkler will emit anywhere between one and five gallons four to 20 liters of water per minute.
In contrast, the amount of water that a drip emitter uses is measured in gallons per hour. A well-installed, well-maintained drip-irrigation system all but eliminates the phenomenon of water wastefully running off. Sign up for our Newsletter! Pressure regulators - some people have the wonderful problem of having high water pressure coming into their yards. If your water pressure exceeds 50 psi, you will want to have a pressure regulator on your lines.
A pressure regulator should be installed just after the water source, I. Filters - a filter on your main line will keep larger pieces of dirt and other contaminants from moving through your tubing and causing blockages. Flush valves - debris, dirt, and algae can accumulate in the lines over time and should be flushed out of the lines at least once a year.
These small valves are applied at the end of the line and can be opened to let everything pass. Lines can be crimped back and held in place with clamps. Backflow Preventer - in certain municipalities and settings, preventing the flow of water back toward a home and the drinking water supply is very important. This type of valve prevents water that has been in contact with chemicals, animal excrement, dirt, etc. Planning your drip system can be fun! Draw your yard and garden on a large piece of paper and then play with the ideas presented here to come up with a plan for how to irrigate.
Keep a running list of the fittings you will need. Because small amounts of water are applied slowly, drip irrigation is designed to run daily unless it rains. Water is applied either once or twice a day. Early morning is the best time to water because there will be less evaporation. Watering in the evening increases plant disease. Check filters and emitters on a regular basis to ensure they are functioning properly and not clogged.
To prevent winter damage, take up the drip irrigation system at the end of each gardening season. The cost of a drip irrigation system will vary depending on the size of the area to be irrigated and the type of emitters and tubing used.
However, regardless of the size of the area being irrigated there is an initial upfront cost for standard items such as the valve, pressure regulator, and backflow preventer.
Soaker Hose. Soaker hose is another irrigation alternative. A soaker hose requires less equipment and is easier and cheaper to install than drip irrigation. A soaker hose is a porous hose that can be connected to an outside faucet, garden hose, or rain barrel and laid out along the base of the plants. The hose allows water to slowly seep out along its length. This system works well with plants that are close together, such as ornamental beds with clumped flowers or groundcovers.
However, a soaker hose should not be used to irrigate plants, trees, or shrubs that are spaced far apart because the area in between the plants will be unnecessarily watered. Additional Resources. Jess Stryker. Drip Irrigation for Home Gardens. Colorado State University Cooperative Extension.
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