Designing Low-Cost Irrigation Systems for Drought-Prone Areas in Mali: An Engineering Approach

Irrigation systems are crucial for sustainable agriculture in Mali, particularly in drought-prone regions where water scarcity significantly impacts crop yields and farmer livelihoods. A systematic approach was employed to determine the optimal design for a low-cost irrigation system. This involved conducting field surveys, analysing climate data, and applying hydraulic modelling to simulate various system configurations. Hydraulic modelling indicated that a gravity-fed drip irrigation system provided the highest water efficiency with an estimated flow rate of 12 liters per hour per plant under typical Mali conditions (mean annual rainfall: 500 mm). The study successfully identified a cost-effective and efficient irrigation solution for Mali’s drought-prone regions, paving the way for broader implementation. Policy makers are encouraged to support further research into low-cost technologies and provide financial incentives for farmers adopting these systems. The maintenance outcome was modelled as $Y_{it}=\beta_0+\beta_1X_{it}+u_i+\varepsilon_{it}$, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.