Resource

Flood Irrigation System Design

Farmer-to-Farmer is a USAID-funded initiative, which sends American agricultural/agribusiness experts to developing countries to offer technical assistance to our host organizations. These trips are volunteer-based, but all trip-related expenses are covered by CNFA, and typically last between two and three weeks.

ASSIGNMENT

AGRIPEL is an association of 32 farmers (12 women) in the village of Lamego, in Nhamatanda District, Mozambique. The association focuses most of their efforts on the production and marketing of vegetables, cereals, and livestock, with 40 Ha currently under production for vegetables, and another 120 Ha dedicated to the husbandry cattle and goats and the production of maize, sorghum, cowpeas, and pigeon peas.

AGRIPEL members farm on the banks of the Haluma River, and most of the members use river water to irrigate their vegetable fields. Excessive fuel costs, inefficient irrigation systems and other problems persist due to a lack of practical knowledge in irrigation.

AGRIPEL has requested technical support from an F2F volunteer in order to improve their practical knowledge in flood irrigation, thereby increasing production and revenue.

DESIRED IMPACT

• Increased area under improved production, which will result in increased revenue.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Willingness to work for a week or more in rural Mozambique.

• Expert in small-scale sustainable irrigation systems, especially flood irrigation systems.

• Knowledge of equipment calibration and maintenance.

• Must be citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.