Products
Drip irrigation system
Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the plant through a system of plastic tubes with minimal water loss. Drip systems are often associated with the commercial farms of more wealthy farmers but these are unaffordable for smallholder farmers and are not available in sizes suitable for small plots.
Beginning in 1995, IDE developed a variety of low-cost drip irrigation kits that are appropriately sized and affordable for smallholders. The kits are typically used in the production of fruit and vegetable crops but have also been used for maize, wheat, and cotton.
The kits are also expandable so that farmers can start small and scale-up as their financial capacity and experience grows. The irrigation kits range in size from a 20-litre bucket irrigating 25 mē to customized systems covering 1000 mē or more.
Crops irrigated by drip systems show water savings of up to 50% resulting in reduced labour and energy costs. This increased frequency and uniformity of water application results in yield increases of 30 to 50%.
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