Treadle, drip, and, capacity building : Spark Foundation

CONCEPT NOTE

Hi-Tech at the Door of Marginalized: Treadle Pump + Drip System + Capacity Building Manual Pumping Technology based Efficient Irrigation Technology for Small Plot Holders

CTARA, IIT Bombay

Hi-Tech at the Door of Marginalized: Treadle Pump + Drip System+ Mobile App. For Help Manual Pumping Technology based Efficient Irrigation Technology for Small Plot Holders A Proposal by CTARA, IIT Bombay

Traditionally, Irrigation is associated with large diesel or electric operated pumps, irrespective of the farm size. In past, researchers like Robert Chambers and others, have pointed out the mismatch between the over installing diesel/ electrical pumps and farm size (Robert Chambers, To the hands of the poor: Water, Trees, and Land, Discussion paper series, DP No. 14, Nov. 1984). The unnecessary but intended installation of over-capacity pumps entails considerable recurring expenditure as well as huge water losses.

Manual pedal pumps with or without drip system, which is affordable, robust, efficient, and appropriate for the scale of operation of marginal and small farmers, enable the “niche� farming communities to increase the adoption of improved small-scale irrigation practices for production of high value food and cash crops like vegetable/ flower, during the rabi crop season or agricultural lean period, to increase food security, nutrition and cash income level.

Attempts are made by the Center for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas (CTARA) IIT Bombay for the popularization of these pumps among farmers in two districts of Maharashtra, namely; Palghar and Yavatmal districts, without taking resource to any subsidies. It is indeed noticed that the farmers found this combination quite attractive. However, some farmers preferred only the drip kits while some preferred only the pumps and some preferred the combination of two; Pedal pump and drip system combination. So far more than 50 such units disseminated in the field without taking any route of subsidy.

1. The Background In India, marginal and small farmers account for about 93% (including 7.41% of the landless farmers) of the total farming population. Similarly, the area operated by marginal and small farmers has increased to 53.29 % of the total agriculture area operated, and land holding trend in Indian agriculture shows that the percentage of households of all categories of holding have declined, except for marginal categories (70th Round, NSSO 2013). The access to irrigation has increased for all categories of farmers, however, be noted that large farmers have capitalized on cheaper sources like canal (NCEUS, 2008) while small plot holders are mostly saddled with oversized diesel / electrical pumps along with conventional irrigation methods (Flood/ Furrow) even in areas with high water table or having high surface water bodies. These farmers having less than 20% access to the cheap water resources like canal and their net income from farming is negative and access to cheap irrigation is vital to enhance their productivity and net income from farming (NCEUS, 2008). The marginal and small landholders often find themselves unable to invest in such a large size pump apart from unable to invest in considerable recurring expenditure which also results in huge water losses and low productivity. It is important to remedy these deficiencies by propagating suitable non-diesel, non-electrical pumping solutions coupled with efficient irrigation methods like the drip or the sprinklers among these farmers to minimize recurring energy cost, minimize water losses, maximize the production per drop of water and maximize

economic benefits. Keeping this in mind, CTARA, IIT Bombay has designed an integrated efficient irrigation system for the small plot holders, with a focus on capacity building of farmer and empowering the farmer with knowledge and skill set required.

2. Goals and Objectives: The goal of the project is to increase food security, nutrition and cash income level among the small plot holder farmers in the target areas. The objective is to increase the adoption of affordable, robust, efficient and appropriate manual pump based drip system for production of high-value cash crops in selected districts through the support of MSRLM local team and SHGs group.

2. Impact: Technology Dissemination in Odisha and Maharashtra 2.1 The Model Affordability, knowledge accessibility, mitigation of initial risk, repair and maintenance facility at the village level and skill development are key determiners for the success of any livelihood initiative.

Keeping this in mind, CTARA has initiated an irrigation program in an integral part of Lamtaput Block, Koraput district, Odisha, and Palghar (Talasari and Vikramgadh taluka) and Yavatmal district, Maharashtra. The aim of this program is to provide an affordable and efficient irrigation solution to the small plot holder. The small plot holders are from two “niche� categories: having surface water availability, or, slow recharge rate shallow well. The introduced technology reduces irrigation expenditure (initial as well as recurring), reduce drudgery during the irrigation operation, and, enhance the water use efficiency in the farming through bringing hi-tech like drip/ sprinkler at the door of marginalized farmers. This program focused on creating awareness among the farmer, providing village level repair and maintenance and providing facilities to local people to develop as a social entrepreneur.

For skill development, an III tier repair and maintenance training is provided to the farmer, which has both components software (Spoken Tutorials) and hardware, to repair the pump and drip system at the very farm level. Tier I involves the training of all adopters/ interesting farmers at the locality, tier II involves the training of 5 youths from the same locality at the pump manufacturing center and Tier III involves the repeated training of youths from the locality to enable them to develop as an entrepreneur.

2.2 Effectiveness About 250 Treadle Pump plus drip system have been disseminated in Bihar, Maharashtra, and Odisha, since 2015-17. These dissemination has happened in II phase manner. During the first phase 146 only suction type of treadle pump has been introduced and disseminated in Lamtaput Block, Koraput District, Odisha, during the 2015-16. The technology has been customized based on user feedback and the technology has been improved in such a way that water-efficient technologies such as drip or sprinkler could be coupled with treadle pump. Once proof of concept was done, the second phase has been started since 2016.

Here one should bear in mind that tribal communities in Odisha and hilly region of Maharashtra like Vikramgadh, practice community farming culture in a village and only a few farmers purchase a pump and share it among themselves.

2.3 Effectiveness Outcomes A survey was conducted after 4 months of the technology dissemination and training program held, to understand and quantify the impact of the program.

It was found that –  

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Treadle Pump adopter moved from subsistence farming to a surplus farming with the availability of irrigation technology.

Most of the farmers have moved from “grain” based farming system to “cash crop” based farming system during the second cropping season. Not all but many of the farmers have taken a third vegetable crop, based on the availability of the water. In an interesting development, a handful of farmers has been cultivating paddy with the help of treadle pump during the rabi season.

Irrigation facilities helped the farmer to plan their farming activities better, like timely rice nursery plantation, millet nursery plantation, vegetable cultivation etc.

Bringing the produce early in market fetched the good price of the produce to the farmer.

Farmers who adopted Treadle Pump got high price of their produce compared to farmers who were hand watering their fields.

Treadle Pump irrigation technology gave confidence to the farmer to innovate or try new methods. For example, two farmers have planted an orchard with their own innovative methods for water conservation i.e. digging a 3×3 square pit between two plants, they used treadle pump for lifting water into these pits.

Affordable drip system enables small plot holders to enhance the area under the “cash” crop through enhancing the water use efficiency.

The drip system set up is used for the application of fertilizer too. Application of liquid fertilizer through the drip set saves the labor, reduce the drudgery, and, reduce the fertilizer requirement through enhancing application efficiency.

Irrigation multiplier is difficult to measure because most of the farmers moved from a single crop farming system to second crop farming system.

Occasionally, farmers do troubleshooting themselves since during installation we also provide the necessary accessories.

Since farmers have necessary accessories they alter the drip design as per their wish or crop requirement.

Peripheral Activities: Farmer used the pump not only for an irrigation water lifting but also for providing water to the animal and fetching drinking water.

Figure 1 Onion field irrigated with Treadle Pump, January 2016, Koraput, Odisha.

Figure 2: Treadle pump irrigated paddy field, Koraput, Odisha.

Figure 3: A farmer with Treadle Pump based Drip System in Ralegaon Taluka, Yavatmal, Maharashtra.

Figure 4: A treadle pump and 100 sq, m drip kit vegetable plot, Yavatmal, Maharashtra.

Figure 5: Bringing Hi-Tech such as drip at the door of small plot holders. Treadle Pump plus drip kit in a chili crop field, Kuchinda, Sambalpur, Odisha. The Treadle Pump can lift the water from 25 feet below the ground and can deliver the water at 30 feet above the pump.

3. Focusing on small-holder farmers/ slow recharge shallow well farmers 3.1 Unit of Operation The dissemination of the technology will be carried out at the village level. The village approach allows providing repair and maintenance facilities and developing a local group with greater speed and effectiveness.

3.2 Criteria for selecting/prioritizing beneficiaries The farmer should be selected based on the following criteria, as per the technology scope.

1. An integrated efficient irrigation system (Treadle Pump + Drip System + Spoken Tutorial) A. Subsistence farming is predominant B. Lack of productivity due to unavailability of irrigation/flood irrigation C. Lack of water lifting facilities or the currently available technology requires a high recurring cost.

D. Net income from farming is in negative or is marginal.

E. Irrigation Water is scared.

F. Farmer interest in “Cash” crop (Vegetable/ Fruit/ Flower) because of faster returns.

2. Affordable Drip System (Drip System + Spoken Tutorial) A. B. C. D. E. F. G.

Beneficiaries already have water-lifting technology Use flood/ furrow/ hand watering method to irrigate the field Problem of timely availability of Diesel/ Electricity/ Kerosene High recurring cost Lack of productivity due to flood irrigation Irrigation water is scare Farmer interest in “Cash” crop (Vegetable/ Fruit/ Flower) because of faster returns.

3.3 Technology, Specification, and cost of technology The Treadle Pump is a human power operated, a reciprocating pump which lifts the water from 25 feet below the ground and can deliver the water above 30 feet height from the pump. One pump set will contain pumps and its accessories like suction pipe and delivery pipe. The flow rate of treadle pump is 3500 liters per hour for the suction depth of 15 feet and 1200 liters per hour for a suction depth of 25 feet.

Drip Irrigation is a type of micro irrigation method in which water is directly supplied to the plant root zone. An irrigation system will contain one unit of drip system and spare parts like joiners to repair the drip pipe in case of physical damage. *For the cost of technology include the technology cost, transportation cost, and contingency. Please refer Annexure I.

4. Empowering the farmer: Knowledge accessibility and skill development Knowledge accessibility and skill development required for the technical maintenance are the keys for the sustainable initiatives, as pointed out by many academicians, researchers, and practitioners. CTARA has a three-tier approach to the knowledge and skill development of the farmer, both men, and women.

Tier I: Training for all farmers at the very village level for the pump as well as drip. This includes major and minor trouble shooting and its remedies, maintenance important lessons and Spoken tutorial hands-on experience.

Tier II: A vigorous and advanced training to 5 semi-skilled youths from the same localities at the “Wardha Women Technology cum Demonstration Center”. This will give an insight in assembly and maintenance activities but also manufacturing and design process. An advanced training of Spoken tutorial, to communicate with CTARA – IIT Bombay for any technical and maintenance problem.

Tier III: A regular training to the local youths from the same localities, to sustain the mechanism. This will also keep an advanced batch of repair and maintenance facilitators. This training season aims to develop some local entrepreneurs with the help of CTARA – IIT Bombay and District Administration.

Figure 6: The Participants during the training held on 25 Feb. 2017. The participants were from Palghar and Yavatmal district. Chief Minister Rural Development Fellows (Maharashtra) have also come for the skill development program.

Figure 7: Women trainee providing repair and maintenance services to the treadle pump at Yavatmal, Maharashtra.

5. Benefits of the proposed program The short term and long term benefits of the proposed program are as follows:

5.1 Short term benefits 5.1.1 Change in Cropping Pattern The poor farmer allocates larger proportion of their cultivated land to grain crops and smaller proportion of high-value crops like fruits and vegetables (various agriculture census of India). The small and marginal farmers have a comparative advantage in growing vegetables, flowers, and fruits because of quick returns. Access to the efficient irrigation system will ensure the better planning of farming activities, timely farming activities and mitigation of uncertainties, and therefore can contribute towards the growth of cash crops.

5.1.2 Increase in Productivity The productivity of small plot holders continue to be equal or better than the large landholders, but large variation among the small plot holders even persist today (S. Dev. Mahendra., Small Farmers in India: Challenges and Opportunities, WP – 2012-014). Small farmers having irrigation facilities have witnessed higher productivity compared to the farmers having no or hand watering irrigation facilities.

Treadle Pump irrigated fields have witnessed high productivity and higher uniformity among produce in shape and size compared to no irrigation or diesel irrigation fields.

5.1.3 Net Income Enhancement from Farming Net income from farming for the small plot holders are in negative and access to affordable irrigation facilities are necessary to enhance the productivity as well as shifting the small plot holders from subsistence farming to reflective small-scale commercial farming (NCEUS, 2008). Access to an integrated efficient irrigation system cease the recurring cost and thus bring down the input cost for the farmer. The technology is also instrumental in the better planning of agriculture activities, change in cropping pattern, increase the productivity and shifting the small plot holders from subsistence farming to surplus farming, therefore enhancing the net income from farming.

5.1.4 Support Village Level Repair & Maintenance To sustain the momentum created during technology dissemination it is necessary to provide repair and maintenance service at the very local level (Agnihotri. S. B., Diffusion of water pumping wind wills in Odisha – An analysis of success, 1987). The farmers will be trained for the repair and maintenance of the treadle pump and drip irrigation system and accessories during installation in the field, and through the Spoken tutorial app, which entails the farmers to have audio-video communication in their own mother tongue, for the later services.

5.2 Long-term Benefits 5.2.1 Building Resilience From a livelihood perspective, building resilience involves reducing farmers’ exposure or sensitive to shocks or increasing their capacity to act locally. Small-scale irrigation is critical in building resilience (Adapting irrigation to climate change, FAO, 2016).

5.2.2 Knowledge accessibility & Skill Development Knowledge accessibility increases the capacity of farmers to mitigate the initial risk or uncertainties.

Training of farmers and local people for the repair and maintenance which enables the user to repair treadle pump and drip system at the doorstep will empower farmer in aspects like technical management.

5.2.3 Transition from Subsistence Farming to Commercial Farming An integrated efficient irrigation system will promote cultivation of “cash” crop like flower, fruit, and vegetable among the farmers. These crops have a quick return, which in turn provide a handful amount of cash in farmer’s hand as early as the crop reach market.

5.2.4 Local Entrepreneur Development

Figure 8 Training local entrepreneur

The pump and drip system requires a change of accessories like a washer, stopper, drip pipe, dripper and de-logger (a CTARA innovation which removes clogging particles from clogged drip pipe) etc. Around one group of local people will be provided with advanced technical and management training to become a social entrepreneur and run an enterprise in their locality. This will be linked to CTARA for creating a robust repair, maintenance, and replacement mechanism, and distribution network.

Annexure I Items

Cost/ Unit (Rs.)

Per

Quantity/mic

Life Period (Year)

1

Treadle Pump

4950

No.

1

4 to 5

2

100 Sq.m. Inline Drip

1750

Thickness

200

2 to 3

3

100 Sq.m. Inline Drip

2250

Thickness

400

4 to 5

4

100 Sq.m. Online Drip

2400

Thickness

500

5

5

100 Sq.m. Inline Drip

2550

Thickness

500

5

6

250 Sq.m. Inline Drip

2350

Thickness

200

2 to 3

7

250 Sq.m. Inline Drip

3200

Thickness

400

4 to 5

8

250 Sq.m. Online Drip

3300

Thickness

500

5

9

250 Sq.m. Drip

3550

Thickness

500

5

10

500 Sq.m. Inline Drip

4400

Thickness

200

2 to 3

11

500 Sq.m. Inline Drip

4950

Thickness

400

4 to 5

12

500 Sq.m. Online Drip

5950

Thickness

500

5

13

500 Sq.m. Drip

6350

Thickness

500

5

5950

Thickness

200

2 to 3

7300

Thickness

400

4 to 5

7850

Thickness

500

5

8450

Thickness

500

5

Sl. No.

14 15 16 17

1000 Sq.m.

Drip 1000 Sq.m.

Drip 1000 Sq.m.

Drip 1000 Sq.m.

Drip

Inline Inline Online Inline

*GST is applicable as per actual.

Operating Cost (Rs./ Year) Less Than 100 Less Than 200 Less Than 200 Less Than 300 Less Than 300 Less Than 200 Less Than 200 Less Than 300 Less Than 300 Less Than 200 Less Than 200 Less Than 300 Less Than 300 Less Than 300 Less Than 300 Less Than 500 Less Than 500

Warranty Period (Year) 1 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 3