Introducing the Treadle Pump: Local Innovation in Household-Based Irrigation Schemes in Eastern Ethiopia.

Growing demand for additional land to till and fragmentation of existing land is a serious issue for small holder farmers in East Hararghe (Oromia), Ethiopia. Further, crop production is limited by chronic drought. When it rains, the rain is poorly distributed and seasonally unpredictable for onset and cession. Thus, chronic food insecurity is often the norm. A number of farm surveys and on-farm conversation with farmers were conducted to devise solutions prospectus that potentially ameliorate the chronic food insecurity problem. One of the practical solution feasible for testing was to effect pulling the shallow groundwater using simple water lifting devices, such as treadle pumps. The proximity of the target recommendation zone to an old dry lake bade was a plus. Thus, Treadle pumps were introduced to the farmers, and a select group of farmers with clue for technological perception were trained on the use and maintenance of the pumps including local fabrication of limited parts. Group consisting of agronomist, anthropologist and agricultural economist returned to the farmers after about a year to see what farmers did with the suggestion. Found out drastic modifications. Farmers technically break up the ‘new technology’ and developed a better and what can be considered a break-through: kept the excavation component of treadle pump; innovated a different lifting device; invented a better drilling head. As a result irrigation was made accessible to more households than the project anticipated and the break-through technology freed considerable on-farm labor.