Ultra-Low Energy Drip Irrigation for MENA Countries

A major barrier to disseminating drip irrigation throughout the MENA region is the lack of electrical grid power to pump water. While subsidized operations may be effective on a limited scale, off-grid, solar-powered drip systems remain too expensive for most MENA farmers, costing approximately $3,000/acre. However, if not well designed, also the drip irrigation system can't ensure the expected level of uniformity and efficiency in water distribution. The causes of inefficient irrigation networks and low uniformity of irrigation water distribution are primarily attributed to: 1) the municipal water supply does not provide enough pressure for the drippers to reach their correct operating flow rate, and farmers cannot afford to purchase larger pumps to boost pressure; 2) there is a lack of standardized, high-quality drip irrigation fittings, and those available often leak when subjected to high pressures 3) many farmers lack the knowledge to design drip irrigation networks properly and operate their systems on whatever pressure they have available, rather than the pressure required to achieve uniform water distribution.

Initially, ICARDA will aid the MIT team in understanding the specific regional contexts of running drip irrigation systems in Morocco. They will also identify the farms in Morocco that will take part in both pilot phases, selecting 2-3 farms per geographic area. The Phase-1 pilot will focus on Moroccan farmers growing olive and citrus trees who would be good candidates for drip irrigation under the Green Morocco Plan. The Moroccan farmers will be chosen from the Beni Mellal and Marrakech regions, as well as from the Zaer region, where ICARDA has an experimental station in Merchouch. ICARDA will choose the Phase-2 pilot farms in Morocco from Doukkala (El Jadida region), Gharb (Kenitra region), and Sais (Fes region). The Beni Mellal and Marrakech regions will also host pilots, as they are particularly well suited for solar-powered drip systems. In Morocco, a cluster of 30 farmers will be built around each pilot farm testing solar-powered drip irrigation.

Research activities are oriented around the adoption of ultra-low pressure drip irrigation systems that cut pumping energy by 50% in the MENA region. ICARDA staff will oversee installation of the drip systems and data acquisition instrumentation on farms in Morocco and Jordan where pilot tests will be held. ICARDA will also provide training on the use and maintenance of the equipment to participating farmers and regularly meet with them to collect qualitative data about the drip technology. These frequent visits will enable staff to spot any problems before they are detected by the data recorders and enable them to address issues with the drip systems on site as appropriate.

Following pilot tests, ICARDA will conduct a comprehensive survey with each farmer to understand their experience with the technology, their views on its efficacy, and identify user-centered factors. The intention is to convert hundreds of hectares to drip irrigation for improved natural resource management and agricultural productivity which, in turn, will enhance the food security situation with positive consequences in the reduction of land abandonment and migration from rural areas to the cities.

UPDATES

In 2020, successful ULE drip irrigation trials on olive and citrus trees and fruits and vegetables were completed. In the same year, a public-private research partnership with Jain Irrigation Systems Limited led to the successful testing of ULE drippers (ULED) for irrigating date palm plantations in six Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

In 2021, within the framework of the Arabian Peninsula Regional Program, ICARDA distributed 10,000 ULED to six APRP member countries to foster desert farming. Also in 2021, during the 5th African Regional Conference, ICARDA hosted the first African Young Professional Workshop where they, with project partners, presented the challenges of drylands water scarcity and how to address them. A key activity was a field visit to project site on the outskirts of Marrakech in Morocco, which was attended by 70 young professionals from 30 different countries. The workshop showcased the multi-season field tests of ULE drip irrigation emitters.

During 2021 and 2022, ULED have been compared to conventional irrigation systems such as the ‘bubbler’ in UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, with the technology proving highly efficient in water use with minimal energy consumption.