Pumps Matter!

When one thinks of irrigation, the first thing to come to mind is water!

Irrigation is needed when water is very scarce. With a good water source, a farmer has to find a way of getting water from the source to where crops have been planted. A number of viable options are available for a farmer, the most common in Malawi is the use of watering cans or buckets, other options include the use of treadle pumps, motorized pumps (diesel and petrol pumps) and solar powered pumps. However, these pumps are very expensive for a farmer.  These pumps are very costly because there is the cost of buying the pump itself and secondly there is also the cost of operating the pumps (fuel and maintenance costs).  Pumps that Africa Windmill Project produces do not need fuel or electricity to run, they run on renewable energy sources to pump water and a very small amount of man power to run very light hand crank pumps. 

Nelson Kalumo is a member of Mwambakulu irrigation club, an irrigation club that is located in Mwambakulu village in Chigonthi EPA. Just like so many other farmers, he faces the challenge of irrigation especially that of using watering cans to irrigate his crops.  He grows different crops in his garden including maize, tomato and cabbage. These crops require a lot of water to grow very well. However, because of the intensity and toughness of the work of carrying watering buckets, Kalumo was restricted to irrigating only a small piece of land, but with the introduction of a rope and washer pump he will be able to irrigate a larger garden.

Mr. Kalumo is a hard worker and a dedicated farmer.  Farmers that benefit from rope and washer pumps and windmills are the ones who have shown that they are able to produce best results and are able to do that over time.  He has been chosen to be one of the lead farmers in his section.  This is in recognition of his outstanding work.  Having been appointed to become one of the lead farmers, Africa Windmill Project believes that it is befitting for Nelson to receive a rope and washer pump, he has also been duly  trained so that he can be training fellow farmers how to make irrigation basins, construct canals, install and operate a hand crank pump. 

Nelson is one farmer among many farmers who are very dedicated to irrigation farming that need to upgrade to using rope and washer pumps so that they improve their production.  AWP’s target for 2021, is to make sure that 250 rope and washer pumps are produced and distributed to our farmers to help them END their HUNGER season and reduce poverty. 

Consider joining us as we empower 250 farmers with rope and washer pumps!