On behalf of the minor International Entrepreneurship and Development at TU-Delft, we are installing a sustainable irrigation system at a farm school in Misungwi, Tanzania. Irrigation makes it possible to harvest four times a year instead of once, which is a valuable development for a country struggling with food shortages. This project is in collaboration with YEP-Tanzania.
This project has two main goals: a technical one and an educational one. The technical goal focuses on developing an irrigation system for the outdoor fields of the farm. This will enable harvesting even during the dry season, contributing to increased agricultural production and the farm's commercial objectives. The second goal is to encourage local young Tanzanians to become commercial farmers. YEP teaches these local students/farmers how to start their own commercial farm and make investment decisions. We are intensively involved in all phases of the investments to ensure that the system is optimally implemented. In addition to the technical project, we actively involve local students in our investments. We motivate them and explain the benefits of an irrigation system, thereby encouraging them to also use irrigation in the future, when they have their own farm. In this way we strive for impact in both the short and long term.
Update:
Significant progress has been made on the farm. The irrigation system is now operational, and technical improvements have been made to the water infrastructure. Strategic closures have been placed in the pipes to efficiently manage water flow. On the farm, the solar pump is connected, pumping water from Lake Victoria up to the new main tank with a capacity of 10,000 liters. From there, water is distributed across the entire farm using gravity.
In recent weeks, we have not only invested in a larger main tank but also elevated its position, allowing water to flow more smoothly thanks to gravity. Additionally, we have invested in a solar pump house, a 10,000-liter water tank, a 2.5-meter stand for the irrigation tank, and additional closures for the pipes, all aimed at enabling and optimizing irrigation. The design of the solar pump house is integrated into the position of the mother tank, which is a cost-efficient and sustainable solution.
The irrigation system is now functioning properly, and we have already planted the first tomato plants in the ground. In the coming weeks, all other crops will be planted, and a closing mechanism will be installed in each tank to prevent flooding when they are full. To further motivate the farmers and prevent neglect of the system, they themselves have financed the purchase of all seeds. This way, they will only recover the investment when the final product meets the standards. This approach encourages them to make the most out of the irrigation system.
Update:
The project has been successfully completed and significant progress is being made on the farm. The entire drip irrigation system is currently fully operational, thanks in part to the adjustments we made to the water infrastructure on the farm. Thanks to S4S, we have been able to realize this project. S4S helped us acquire a new mother tank of 10,000 liters, which provides the entire farm with all the water it needs, and also enabled us to raise the level of this tank by 2 meters. This way, we have sufficient water pressure to supply the irrigation system with water using gravity.
At this moment, almost all 8000 tomato seeds have grown into tomato plants, and it is expected that harvesting can take place by the end of April. After this harvest, the farmers will use the proceeds from the tomatoes to save money for their own agricultural enterprise in the future. Once the tomatoes are sold, they will sow the land again and then attempt another successful harvest in the fully dry season. With the help of all the investments made in recent months and this fully sustainable irrigation system, this is now possible!
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