Irrigation

Increasing the access of farmers to adapted irrigation solutions improving their livelihood and climate resilience

Off-season farmer-led irrigation (2)

Off-season irrigation is critical to ensuring food security and adapting farming systems to the growing consequences of climate change. Even though the potential for irrigation is huge, the uptake of irrigation solutions is often hampered by a lack of knowledge, accessible and adapted technologies, and appropriate business models. We aim to improve this situation by developing and promoting accessible irrigation solutions and decision-making tools, together with farmer associations and local enterprises. In addition, we support the creation of smart supply chains, service networks and finance solutions, to increase accessibility and reduce risks for farmer-led irrigation (FLID).

We tackle the challenges of farmer-led irrigation by working on four fronts:

  • We use a centered-design approach called "co-construction" by working directly with farmers in the field to develop solutions adapted to their needs and wishes. 

  • We connect offer and demand for products and services, to create efficient and durable market chains at local and international level.

  • We work on solar irrigation and efficient water application technologies to improve farmer resilience to climate change.

  • We accelerate knowledge and skills transfer in the sector, by developing decision-making tools for key actors of the FLID chain.

Large-scale solar irrigation system

What we offer

We offer these services throughout our themes and we always work in collaboration with a local partner.

Examples of projects

Technical Assistance

Women community garden in Boghé Mauritania, with solar irrigation installations

In the PARIIS project, our role as Type 2 Strategic Partner (PS T2) is to provide technical assistance to the projects units of the 6 PARIIS countries (Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger & Tchad), and to ensure the capacity building of public and private actors.

  • Advisory support to the partners in charge of the field implementation.
  • Technical trainings to the private sector and institutional actors
  • Capitalisation and sharing the lessons learnt in each country
  • Strengthening of the capacity of Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS)

Project implementation

After conducting a study with IHE Delft on the potential of sand rivers for smallscale irrigation in the Gaza province in Mozambique, we implement a project funded by a GIZ funds, to develop a business case on solar irrigation in the region.

Our intervention focusses on manual drilling, solar irrigation, capacity building of local businesses, and commercial chain development. We train private operators on manual drilling and solar irrigation, and implement the solutions in the field while testing PAYGO as an innovative finance mechanism.

Training on pumps and irrigation systems

Product development & Innovation

Demonstration of an app to a group of women next to solar panels

Farmers do not always have the knowledge and skills to choose the right pumps and application systems for irrigation. We developed the Irris smartphone application as a tool for technicians, advanced farmers, distributors, and extension workers. It provides the specifications to buy a (solar) pump adapted to the farm.

The app is available on the Google Play Store for free, after entering the characteristics of the farm, the results are generated instantly and exportable in an Excel format.

Innovations

Zainer

The zainer is simple machine to support climate resilient agriculture. It allows to easily and quickly made Zaï holes.

IRRIS

IRRIS is an app facilitating the choice of pumps for solar irrigation systems. Enter the specifications of your farm, and get info on the pump and panels needed.

Sunflower pumps

The sunflower range of pumps have been developed by Practica and are now owned and commercialised by Futurepump. 

Latest news on irrigation

4 November 2022