Agro-Tech Book - Agriculture Support Programme

Farming and Processing Equipment
AGRO-TECHNOLOGY
In this Information Pack some of the equipment that can be used for ploughing, cultivation,
irrigation and processing is discussed. At the end there is a list summarising the equipment
and showing where it can be bought.
Irrigation Equipment
Irrigation can be done in many different ways depending on where the water comes from,
how the land is shaped, what sort of power is used and how much money is spent.
If the water comes in a stream and can be diverted into a furrow, so that it �ows above
the crop, then it can be directed into the �eld and used in “FLOOD” irrigation. This is the
cheapest way to irrigate but it can be done only when the water can be put into a furrow
above the crop. It is wasteful of water, particularly in sandy soils.
If the water cannot be diverted to �ow by gravity above the crop then it must be pumped.
It can then be diverted to the crops by furrows. Or, it can be pumped into a tank from which
it can �ow to the crops by pipe, or directly to a basin dug around the crops. This is called
a “HOSE AND BASIN” system. Such a system does not require pressure except to reach
the tank.
A “PIDDLE” system is one in which holes are drilled in pipes so that the water comes out
next to the plants. It can be fed from a pump or a tank and does not waste the water. Such
a system can cost $150 per hectare without the pump.
A “DRIP” system has smaller outlets for the water by each planting station so that the
water drips into the soil and wets only a small area at the surface so that weeds do not grow
and there is little evaporation. The system requires a low pressure of 1 atmosphere (1 bar or
15psi) and provides the most ef�cient use of water. Drum kits or bucket systems are drip
lines attached to a drum or bucket that must be �lled to distribute the water to the plants.
Drip lines cost about US$ 900 per ha. depending on the interrow spacing. Where drip lines
are used with very low pressure, such as from a drum elevated only 2-3 metres, the drip
lines must not be longer than 20m.
E.E.O.A.
“MICRO-JET” sprinkler systems give better distribution of water to the root zone but allow
more weeds to grow. They are more expensive than drip and require a pressure of only 1
atmosphere. They will cost about US$ 1,000 per ha.
“SPRINKLERS” are more expensive to buy but fewer are required per hectare. They can
be spaced up to 18 metres apart and require a pressure of at least 2.5 atmospheres at
the sprinkler nozzle to work properly. The sprinklers are supplied from a pressurised
pipe, usually aluminium (prone to theft!), thin walled galvanized iron (relatively heavy) or
polyethylene/ aluminium combinations. The pipes and sprinklers are moved at regular
intervals; e.g. every 8 hrs where the irrigation rate is 6mm of water/hr. This combination is
AGRO-TECHNOLOGY: Farming and Processing Equipment
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