Designing Economically Viable Irrigation Systems for Drought Prone Regions in Mali Using Low-Cost Technologies

Irrigation is critical for sustainable agriculture in Mali, especially in drought-prone regions where water availability significantly impacts crop yields and farmer livelihoods. Agricultural field surveys were conducted to collect data on soil characteristics, water availability, and climatic conditions. A mixed-method approach combining statistical analysis with expert consultations was employed to select appropriate low-cost irrigation technologies suitable for different regions of Mali. Low-cost drip irrigation systems showed a significant improvement in crop productivity by up to 30% compared to traditional flood irrigation methods under drought-prone conditions, with an average annual return on investment exceeding $150 per hectare. This study demonstrates that low-cost and sustainable irrigation technologies can be effectively implemented to enhance agricultural productivity in Mali's drought-prone regions, contributing to food security and economic stability. The findings suggest the adoption of drip irrigation systems for smallholder farmers, with further research to evaluate scalability and cost-effectiveness across different climatic zones and socio-economic conditions. Irrigation Systems, Low-Cost Technologies, Drought-Prone Regions, Mali The maintenance outcome was modelled as $Y_{it}=\beta_0+\beta_1X_{it}+u_i+\varepsilon_{it}$, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.