Design, introduction, and extension of low-pressure drip irrigation in Myanmar

Abstract

Drip irrigation is used extensively by both large and small commercial horticultural crop growers in most developed countries where benefits include not only high water use efficiency, but also higher yields, improved product quality, and reduced incidence of foliar disease. Drip systems are still relatively new and expensive in Southeast Asia, and it is primarily wealthier farmers who currently enjoy its benefits. There are also significant perceptual barriers to adoption as many farmers are accustomed to applying copious amounts of water to horticultural crops and are unfamiliar with drip or their crops’ actual water requirements. As a nongovernmental organization whose mission is to help boost small farm incomes, International Development Enterprises (IDE) began experimenting with lowpressure, low-cost gravity-fed drip systems in Myanmar (Burma) in 2006. While the basic design was similar to microtube drip systems of the 1960s, local improvements included filters designed for low pressures, easy-to-use fittings, and inexpensive collapsible header tanks. Our system was optimized for operation on small but commercial-scale plots using pressures as low as 1 psi or only ≈ 1/10th of that used for conventional drip irrigation. Extension support materials included illustrated installation guides, system design software, videos, testing/filtering of dissolved iron, and easy-to-use water requirement calculators. After hundreds of controlled and farmers’ field tests, our locally manufactured drip sets were offered for sale by private dealers throughout Myanmar in 2009. Incremental system improvements coupled with a strong on-farm demonstration and farmer education program resulted in the successful introduction and widespread adoption of drip irrigation in Myanmar.