International Development Enterprises India (IDEI)
Affordable Drip Irrigation
The Challenge
- In arid regions of India water scarcity leaves many rural households without access to the water resources needed for subsistence, income generation, and household uses such as drinking and hygiene.
- With 325 million people living below the poverty line in India, most of who rely on agriculture for subsistence and income, water scarcity has a very significant impact on quality of life for the poor.
The Innovation
- The drip irrigation kit, developed during seven years of research, design, and farmer feedback, meets the irrigation needs of small farmers at a fraction of the cost of traditional irrigation systems.
The Impact
- More than 150,000 units sold to date have given farmers and their families the chance to lift themselves out of poverty.
- By increasing yields, crop diversity, and available income to reinvest in the land, education, healthcare, or other family needs, drip irrigation’s benefits are multiplying far beyond the initial purchase of a kit.
