Designing Low-Cost Irrigation Systems in Mali: An Engineering Perspective

This study examines the design of low-cost irrigation systems to address water scarcity in drought-prone areas of Mali. The methodology involved a combination of site visits, farmer consultations, and the application of cost-benefit analysis to identify optimal irrigation technologies. Initial assessments indicated that solar-powered drip irrigation systems were particularly effective, reducing water usage by up to 30% in the driest regions compared to traditional flood irrigation methods. The findings suggest a significant potential for scaling these low-cost solutions across Mali’s agricultural landscape, enhancing both productivity and sustainability. Farmers should be provided with subsidies or loans to implement solar-powered drip irrigation systems, which are expected to yield substantial economic benefits in the medium term. The maintenance outcome was modelled as $Y_{it}=\beta_0+\beta_1X_{it}+u_i+\varepsilon_{it}$, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.