African Control Systems Engineering | 13 May 2007
Designing Economical Irrigation Solutions in Mali's Drought Zones
B, o, c, o, u, m, O, u, m, a, r, ,, D, i, a, l, l, o, C, o, u, l, i, b, a, l, y, ,, S, a, n, g, a, r, e, D, i, a, r, r, a, ,, A, g, a, T, r, a, o, r, é
Abstract
Irrigation systems are crucial for agricultural productivity in Mali's drought-prone areas, where traditional methods often lead to unsustainable water usage and economic inefficiencies. A mixed-method approach combining field surveys with participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques was employed to identify suitable technologies and user preferences. A cost-benefit analysis informed the selection of irrigation systems, ensuring they could be economically viable in local conditions. Field trials demonstrated that a combination of drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting systems increased crop yields by an average of 30% compared to traditional methods, with water savings reaching up to 75%. The designed irrigation solutions not only improved agricultural productivity but also reduced the environmental footprint through efficient water usage. Policy makers should promote public-private partnerships to fund and scale-up these low-cost solutions across Mali's drought zones. Farmers should be educated on maintenance practices to ensure system longevity. Irrigation Design, Sustainable Agriculture, Drought Zones, Low-Cost Solutions The maintenance outcome was modelled as $Y<em>{it}=\beta</em>0+\beta<em>1X</em>{it}+u<em>i+\varepsilon</em>{it}$, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.