The aim of the project is to develop an affordable micro-scale gravity-fed drip irrigation system for Burro in Ghana. The target customers own small farms or large gardens and primarily grow vegetables. They do not necessarily have previous experience with irrigation technologies but have access to some kind of free or very cheap water source.
We are currently considering a system size of around 1/16 acres. That way, a 1/8 acre plot can be covered by two systems and a 1/4 one by four. This also allows farmers with more than ⅛ acres of vegetables to try out the system on just a fraction of their land before shifting to drip completely.
The containers should require filling once or twice per day and the drippers should deliver an amount of water appropriate for growing common vegetables like tomatoes in the dry season with no additional water needed. The system should also be able to remain in place during the rainy season so it can be used to counter the threat of crops dying from an unexpected period without rain.
The system should be modular, such that a farmer who already owns their own tank and stand (or has access to a cheap one) can connect the system to it easily, while those who don’t can buy special ones that we design. Similarly, our thought is that some customers might want to buy a treadle pump like the one Burro already sells to fill their containers, while others might have access to pressurized water or a gasoline pump – for example by borrowing from a neighbor for the relatively short daily period it would take to fill the tank.
The cost should be such that the system pays for itself in 3-6 months through extra crops, better quality, savings on fertilizer, savings on labor, increased income security, etc. Setting up irrigation for a ¼ acre farm with the system (through multiple units and possibly extension products) should involve an investment of no more than $200, including purchase of our storage tank but not including a pump for filling it. The design should facilitate easy adaptation of drip irrigation for people who have no prior experience with the technology. It should also be easy to replace broken parts without completely disassembling the entire system.
Our deliverables for Burro will include a working prototype of our system, extensive documentation on our research and design process, and a network of potential partners to work with on refining the product.
Gravity-Fed Drip Irrigation Project 