Walking on Water: Low-cost Treadle Pumps Help Indian Farmers
The Gates Foundation has provided this video to show how one of their grantees’ low-cost treadle pumps are helping Indian farmers access irrigated water for their crops.
These water pumps are supplied by International Development Enterprises (IDE). They are designed to be cost-effective and low-maintenance, with only one part needed to be changed each year at a cost of 20 U.S. cents. Farmers simply dig a bore hole, insert a plastic tube into the hole and then connect the pump to this tube. Farmers then operate the pump using their leg muscles, and they can even pump extra water into adjacent reservoirs for on-going regulated use.
Only one in three farmers currently has access to irrigation in India. Accessing this technology helps smallholder farmers make more long-term investments, such as improved seeds and fertilizers, for their fields. Farmers might even be able to begin growing more lucrative cash crops such as fruits or vegetables.
In an innovative promotional campaign, IDE shares this knowledge with farmers by bringing movie screens into rural communities in the back of a van. Farmers are incentivised to watch a short presentation about the treadle water pumps by the promise of a free movie feature which is aired after the presentation finishes.
Tags: Case Studies, fertilizers, India, principle2, water
Oct 23, 2009
very infomative, i want to know the details if posible,
thanks and regards,
bhau yamgar.
Oct 25, 2009
Its good to hear about low cost pumps,shall i know more details about these pumps for example cost and up to how much depth we can use these pumps.where can we get these pumps.Is it suitable for sugarcane and paddy?If its possible more details is good for us.
Thanks,
Srinivas.
Oct 25, 2009
i want to know more about walking on water , low cost tredle pumps,
Anees Ahmad
9997269142
Oct 26, 2009
Very much interested to know more about these pumps.
Oct 28, 2009
We produce vegetables through contract farming with small & marginal farmers , I would be very interested to have more information on this product please
Jan 08, 2010
May I suggest a useful write up of IDE’s treadle pump experience that can be acessed at. http://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/wppdf/2007/wp2007-014.pdf
Andy Hall, N. Clark & Guru Naik (2007). “Technology supply chain or innovation capacity?: Contrasting experiences of promoting small scale irrigation technology in South Asia” UNU-MERIT Working Paper Series #2007-014, United Nations University-Maastricht Economic and social Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology: Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Apr 03, 2010
Great resource.