Aims / objectives: Poor smallholder farmers are generally slow in adopting new technologies, especially when such decisions require relatively large initial investments which only yield returns over a long period of time. Even when subsidies are made available, the high transaction costs act as a hindrance. After more than three decades of promotion by government, and despite subsidies as high as 90%, conventional drip irrigation technology remains exclusively popular amongst 'gentlemen' (better-off) farmers in India. Since it was first introduced in the 1970s, the total area under drip irrigation expanded sluggishly from 1,500 ha in 1985 to 225,000 ha in 1998, which is tiny compared to an estimated national potential of 10.5 million hectares.
Methods: IDE, India (IDEI) is an NGO dedicated to troubleshooting such problems through a unique market development approach. IDEI promotes simple, affordable, appropriate and environmentally sound technologies for poor smallholder farmers through private marketing channels, under the brand name Krishak Bandhu. Donor resources are accessed by IDEI to stimulate markets by creating demand for such technologies and by ensuring an efficient supply chain for the equipment. The key to the IDEI approach lies in its adoption and application of commercial business principles as well as in its path of socio-economic development as a tool to sustainability of programmes. IDEI seeks to create a strong and continuing demand by motivating and nurturing an effective supply chain (including manufacturers, dealers and assemblers of micro irrigation equipment). In West Nimar, Madhya Pradesh (as in the whole of India) IDEI supports the marketing of cheap, good quality equipment for so-called 'Affordable Micro-Irrigation Technologies' (AMIT) such as pepsee (see associated technology). The promoted technology in this case is based on a farmer's innovation, which then was promoted and spread by IDEI.
Stages of implementation: IDEI has intervened in four major ways: (1) technically it has further developed the local innovation, pepsee, and come up with an improvement, aptly named 'Easy Drip'; (2) it has promoted small manufacturers of drip irrigation equipment and associated them with a brand name; (3) it has trained and supported private sector 'service providers' to assist farmers to install and adopt the systems; (4) on an ad hoc basis, IDEI commissions and supports studies on uptake and impact. Technologies promoted by IDEI provide returns on investment of at least 100% in one year which is crucial in explaining the success of pepsee. Within five years the projects supported by IDEI should become self-sustaining.
สถานที่: West Nimar, Madhya Pradesh, อินเดีย
วันที่ริเริ่ม: n.a.
ปีที่สิ้นสุด: n.a.
ประเภทของแนวทางผู้มีส่วนได้เสียหรือองค์กรที่นำไปปฏิบัติใช้มีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องกับแนวทางนี้อย่างไร | ระบุผู้มีส่วนได้ส่วนเสีย | อธิบายบทบาทของผู้มีส่วนได้ส่วนเสีย |
ผู้ใช้ที่ดินระดับท้องถิ่นหรือชุมชนระดับท้องถิ่น | Smallholder farmers | Traditionally, irrigation investments in particular, and farming in general, has been male-dominated. However, recent studies indicate that women play a critical role in the decision-making process, as these investments often compete with other household requirements. |
ผู้เชี่ยวชาญ SLM หรือที่ปรึกษาการเกษตร | ||
รัฐบาลแห่งชาติ (ผู้วางแผน ผู้ทำการตัดสินใจ) | ||
องค์การระหว่างประเทศ |
left: Supply channels of AMIT (Affordable Micro-Irrigation Technologies) systems and the role of IDEI right: Key elements of the AMIT marketing strategy
การตัดสินใจถูกทำโดย
การตัดสินใจถูกตัดสินอยู่บนพื้นฐานของ
Training and extension are combined: while there are no dedicated training courses, through the network of service providers (who have been trained by IDEI), know-how on drip irrigation is spread among adopter and potential adopter farmers. Brochures and pamphlets (several in the local language) are circulated and there is an informative website.
Apart from research carried out by scientists (published in journals etc) IDEI has its own series of research reports which present the results of various studies on promotion and impact of low cost water saving technologies conducted (see references).
The widespread adoption of the pepsee and Easy Drip irrigation infrastructure has greatly improved water use efficiency