1. Micro-irrigation Technologies in the hills of Nepal:
Poverty Reducing Low-cost Irrigation devices
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2. Introduction
IDE Nepal is focusing on reducing poverty of small-holders in Nepal through on-farm income generation, enabled by the introduction of appropriate irrigation technologies and the development of integrated agriculture markets
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3. Technologies adapted by IDE Nepal to the needs and resources of Nepalese hill farmer
Simplified and Low-cost (SLC) Drip Irrigation Systems
Low-cost Micro sprinkler Systems
Low-cost Water Storage tanks
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4. SLC Drip Irrigation
It is simplified version of the conventional drip irrigation
The main simplified features are low-operating head, simple drippers & fittings and small size and divisible systems
The operating head is just 1 meter. The system can be run even by filing the header tank manually.
A small system including the head tank capable of irrigating 125 square meter costs US $14.
Most parts of the system last 5 years
All parts of the system are manufactured and assembled in Nepal
Irrigation takes place just opening the gate valve of the head tank.
Lasts fore more than five years
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5. Basic conditions for the use of a drip system
Water quantity:100 to 800 liters of water per day depending on the size of the system and the growing season
Water quality: water free from appreciable amount of salts, sediments and organic matters. Pre-filtration is required for sediment laden water.
Land area: More than 60 square meter. Plain, rolling or terraced preferably rectangular
Crops: High value crops such as vegetable or fruit crops grown in rows.
Emitters spacing:60cm
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6. Cost and irrigated area
System size
Irrigation coverage
No. of drippers
Users price ($)
Small (Basic)
125 Sqm. 80 14
Medium (Basic)
250 Sqm
160 21
Large (Basic)
Sqm
320 35
Small ( upgrade)
125 Sqm
7.5
Medium ( Upgrade)
14.5
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7. Main Components of SLC Drip System
Parts
Unit S M L
Head Tank 1
Disc filter
J. Filter
G. valve 2
14 MM PVC Main line pipe
Meter 10 20 40
8 mm PVC drip lateral
meter 48 96
192
Outlet set
Dripper 80
160
320
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8. System Installation Process
preparation of crop beds
Erection of the support structure for the head tank
Connection of the main line with the gate valves
First Water dripping and marking the wet spots
Preparation of planting pits
Second water dripping
Transplantation/seedling & irrigating
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9. Operation & Maintenance
Routine maintenance: cleaning of filters ( once a month)
Cleaning of the drippers in case of clogging
Storage of the system during the rainy season
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10. Low-cost Micro sprinkler technology: In IDE Nepal developed pre-assembled micro-irrigation technology for irrigating vegetable crops up to 500sqm The package includes all necessary components such as pipes, filter, fittings, stand etc. instead of only micro sprinkler head
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11. Basic conditions for the feasibility of MS system
Pressure: Minimum 8 meters, optimum=15 meters
Water discharge: lps (Average discharge of 1/2 inch size public tap)
Land area: More than 60 sqn
Wind blow conditions: Not too windy area
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12. Main features of the technology
As many as 8 micro-sprinklers can be operated with half inch pipe.
No clogging problem as filter is also included in the system
Available in already assembled form & therefore easy to install
Easy to move the position of micro-sprinklers
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13. Cost and irrigated area
Size
Irrigation coverage
MS heads
Users price S
125 sqm 2 $7 M
250 4 10 L
500 8 15
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14. Low-cost water Storage tanks
After a three year ( ) action research IDE Nepal developed three models of low-cost water storage tanks basically meant for storing upland water/rainwater for micro-irrigation of high value crops during the period of water gaps
Three models: Cement mortar jar, Modified Thai Jar and Ferro cement lining
The size of the tanks ranges between 500 and liters
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15. Three recommended Designs
Cement Mortar Jar (CMJ): 500 & liters ( Jar shaped, partly buried or in raised platform)
Modified Thai Jar (MTJ):1500 & 3000 liters ( Jar shaped)
Ferro cement lining (FCL): 6000 & liters ( Rectangular & almost underground
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16. Durability & construction costs
Type CC NC
Total
Time
Life
CMJ
0.5
$21 $8
$29
3 ds
10 y.
CMJ-1.0
11$
$40 3 10
MTJ-1.5
$14
$54 4 12
MTJ-3.0
$68
$22
$100 5
FCL-6.0
$53
$153 7 16
FCL-10.0
$131
$65
$196
Cash cost(CC) = Manufactured materials +skilled mason cost+mould rental
Non cash cost (NC)= Local materials such as sand, gavel, stone, gravel, screened soil + unskilled labour
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17. Basic criteria for tank size selection
Water gap, area to be irrigated, daily domestic needs and investment capacity
There can be following cases in terns of sources of water:
Only upland water sources ( spring, taps, streams)
Combination of water sources & rainwater harvesting
Only Rain water harvesting
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18. Dhanyavad!
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