Micro irrigation
Practical Action
The pipes are produced using a mould made from a plastic drainpipe with handles attached.
The clay is prepared by rolling it out to a suitable size and thickness before it is put into the
mould. Once it has been fitted to the mould the pipe can be removed and stood on end to
dry naturally. The pipes are fired in an open fire.
Although the pipes are still laborious to fill by bucket, the use of clay pipes reduced the work
for the women because the vegetable gardens needed to be watered only once a week instead
of 3-4 times. Watering was said to be reduced by 50% and vegetable production increased.
The main benefit of the clay pipe approach is that the pipes were manufactured by the
women, who ran the vegetable garden, without any external input. The disadvantages are
that it is a long and laborious task to produce, that the installation of clay pipes has to be
carried out every season, and the pipes are easily broken during garden operations.
Further reading
Small Scale Irrigation: A Manual of Low-cost Water Technology by Peter Stern, Practical
Action Publishing 1979
Operation & Maintenance of Small Irrigation Schemes by Peter H. Stern, Practical Action
Publishing 1988.
Buried Pipelines for Surface irrigation by Robert van Bentum & Ian K. Smout, Practical
Action Publishing and WEDC 1994
Looking After Our Land: New approaches to Soil & Water Conservation in Dryland Africa
by Will Crivchley, Practical Action Publishing (Imprint Oxfam Publications) 1991
Modern Irrigation Technologies for smallholders in Developing Countries by Gez Cornish,
Practical Action Publishing and HR Wallingford, 1998
Drip Irrigation Extension Manual, ALIN (Eastern Africa) 2002
Beating Hunger, The Chivi Experience: A Community-based Approach to Food Security in
Zimbabwe by Murwira, K. et al, Practical Action Publishing, 2000
Information Resources
Practical Action Consulting
The Schumacher Centre
Bourton Hall, Bourton-on-Dunsmore
Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23 9QZ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1926 634400
Fax: +44 (0)1926 634401
E-mail: consulting@practicalaction.org.uk
Website: www.practicalaction.org/consulting
Arid Land Information Network (ALIN)
AAYMCA Building
State House Crescent off State House Avenue
PO Box 10098 - 00100 Nairobi, KENYA
Telephone: +254 (20) 2731557
Telefax: +254 (20) 2737813
E-mail: info@alin.net
Website: http://www.alin.or.ke/
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