Designing Affordable Irrigation Systems for Drought Prone Regions in Mali

Irrigation is crucial for sustainable agriculture in Mali’s drought-prone regions, where water scarcity limits crop yields and farmer livelihoods. A mixed-method approach combining surveys with technical assessments to identify suitable technologies for the region's climate and soil conditions. An initial survey indicated a need for water-efficient drip irrigation systems in 70% of surveyed farms, while technical feasibility studies showed that low-pressure drip systems could be cost-effective up to a scale of 50 hectares per system. Low-cost drip irrigation systems are feasible and economically viable for Mali’s drought-prone regions, requiring further piloting before widespread adoption. Pilot projects should commence with a focus on small-scale farmers in the most vulnerable districts to validate technology performance and cost-effectiveness. Irrigation Systems, Drip Irrigation, Low-Cost Solutions, Mali Agriculture The maintenance outcome was modelled as $Y_{it}=\beta_0+\beta_1X_{it}+u_i+\varepsilon_{it}$, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.