Small-Scale Drip Irrigation Opportunities in Myanmar

This is the executive summary of a larger piece produced for GCC. The full article will be available next month.

http://dripirrigation.blog.com/2012/06/14/drip-irrigation-systems-a-cost-effective-gardening-choice/

Small-Scale Drip Irrigation Opportunities in Myanmar 

By: Green Communities Consulting

Water resources are not always abundant for small holder agricultural activities, especially during the dry season; therefore, more efficient water usage is of dire importance to sustainable agricultural procedures. Small-scale irrigation technologies are now making it easier for small holder farmers to supply their crops with the optimal amount of water for increased growing efficiency. One of the most successful irrigation technologies being implemented today is drip irrigation. Drip irrigation supplies a systematically measured amount of water directly to the root system of crops; an important innovation when water is scarce. In providing water directly to the root system, drip irrigation works as a mechanism to keep the soil moisture at optimal levels for increased crop yield.

In addition, the benefit of supplying water directly to the root system is that the farmer uses significantly less water than other common watering techniques, like that of bucket flooding. The conserved water can then be allocated to different resources at the farmers’ discretion. Assembly of drip irrigation systems is forthright, and construction supplies are easy to obtain in Myanmar and at a low-cost.

The most cost-effective pump for small-scale drip irrigation is called a treadle pump, which can be easily purchased in Myanmar. Due to the simplicity of the system and ease of regulating the amount of water being dispersed, it is straightforward to control and manage. Maintenance of drip irrigation systems is not difficult to teach and should be taught to multiple farmers. The benefits of installing a drip irrigation system have been well-documented with small farmers having increased their average annual net income by 100 to 125 US dollars per year after installation. This indicates that drip irrigation systems, when properly maintained and managed, can increase a small farmer’s food security and water security.