Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Crop Production by Treadle Pump Irrigation: Prospects and Constraints

M. Sq. Rahman
Lecturer
Dept. of Farm Mechanics

R. I. Sarker
Professor
Dept. of FPM. Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

S. M. E. Hassan
Lecturer
Dept. of Plant Pathology

S. M. S. Islam
Lecturer
Dept of Agronomy, Hajee Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

In the present paper an assessment of potentials of treadle pump irrigation in terms of costs and returns was made for gram. mustard and potato crops. Total costs and returns per hectare of gram. mustard and potato were calculated as Tk 8708. 13797: Tk 8740. 13552: and Tk 25703.52079. respectively and average values were Tk 18911 and 36717. respectively with average BCR of 1.94. Profitability analysis clearly indicated that treadle pump irrigation was highly profitable for the poor farmers in the study areas and it might help poverty alleviation to a significant extent. Though treadle pump was considered a good irrigation technology due to its low cost, simple design and operationable by family labourers including children and women. but pumping of treadle pump was, however, a very arduous job. Most of the pumping labourers had lost body weight and suffered from various types of physical disturbances.

Keywords: Crop Production, Treadle Pump Irrigation,

Location: Taraganj and Bodarganj Upazila of the greater Rangpur District

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Water management

Objectives:

1) To estimate costs and returns of some crops using treadle pump irrigation.

2) To generate some useful information on advantage and disadvantage of irrigation by treadle pump in the study areas.

Methodology:

Site selection Taraganj and Bodarganj Upazila of the greater Rangpur District were purposively selected as the study areas for the reasons that: (i) Majority farmers of the study areas were poor and marginal farmers. (ii) A large number of treadle pumps were used for irrigation and (iii) The selected areas were easily accessible.

Data collection: The farm survey method was employed to collect information. A list of treadle pumps users was collected from the selected areas. From the list. 30 farmers using treadle pump were randomly selected. A carefully designed survey schedule was developed for recording data. It was then pre-tested. The questions in the schedule were modified and rearranged accordingly. It was prepared in logical sequence. Farmers were personally interviewed by the researchers and data were collected through repeated field visits. The survey was conducted during October 1997 to September 1998. In order to minimize the response error. questions were asked in simple local Bengali language. after using local terms and units of measurement. To check correctness and reliability. of the information. cross-checks were made by asking questions to the neighbouring farmers. Data so collected were analyzed using tabular method and simple and weighted averages. percentages etc. were computed with a view to achieving the study objectives.

Data analysis: Profitability of gram. mustard and potato were determined considering all cost and benefit items (full cost basis) at market prices. Cost items included cost of human labour. animal power. cost of treadle pump. cost of seeds. manure and fertilizers and insecticides. On the average, a treadle pump (bamboo pipe) having a command area 0.2 hectares of crop field was charged at the rate of Tk 180 annually. In the study areas. male labour cost varied from Tk 25 to 40 per man-day and that of female labour from Tk 15 to 18 depending upon the extent of labour requirement for different operations of crops. Benefits were the values of main crops and by-products. Simple cost and return analysis using statistical method was done considering per hectare irrigated land. Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) was determined dividing the total return by the total cost. Tabular method of analysis using averages. ratios. percentages etc. was used for the study.

Source of Information: Journal of the Institution of Engineers. Bangladesh Agricultural Engineering Division. Vol. 28/AE. No.1. Dec. 2001

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Average costs and returns of gram, mustard and potato cultivation per hectare were estimated Tk 18.911 and Tk 36, 717, respectively and that of BCR was 1.94 on average. These results clearly indicated that treadle pump irrigation was highly profitable for the poor farmers in the study area.

Treadle pump is a cheap and simple technology. It can be operated by unskilled, unemployed family labours including women and children to irrigate low water- requiring crops. However, pumping of treadle pump is very arduous job. Most of the pumping labourers suffered from various types to physical disturbance. such as general weakness. muscle pain. gout etc. Farmers were compelled to use women and child labourers which are disrespectful from the social point of view.

Treadle pump uses only the resources which the farmers already have along with their own labourer and limited lands. It does not require any additional resources. It encourages them to help themselves and the need for a relatively small cash investment. Above all, where the benefits from new technologies have often by-passed small and marginal farmers, it offers them hope for a better future. On the whole, by using this technology in a limited scale. particularly the subsistence and marginal farmers can alleviate poverty to a significant extent and thus can contribute to the national economy.

Knowledge Management: Journal