For Immediate Release: 7/27/2000

Low cost irrigation for small farmers

July 27, 2000
BGU researchers and Netafim develop low cost irrigation system for small farmers in developing countries

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers have proposed an innovative irrigation system that will help Ethiopian farmers increase crop yields. The model was developed in conjunction with the Israeli company Netafim, a world leader in irrigation equipment and drip systems.

The Ambassador of Ethiopia to Israel, the Hon. Zewde Otoro, is visiting the International Program for Arid Land Crops Center (IPALAC) at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, on Thursday, July 27th to see the model African Market Garden on the Bergmann Campus that utilizes this new technology. IPALAC hopes to create 25 gardens of this kind in Western Africa during the next year.

The Pilot Project is based on a Low Pressure Drip Irrigation (LPDI) system – designed especially for use by resource-poor small farmers. IPALAC is introducing a similar program in Niger that includes training courses for project leaders and farmers. The pilot research was performed by a scientific team headed by Prof. Dov Pasternak, in cooperation with Mr. Fassil Eshetu, a technician from the Water Technology Institute in Arbaminch, Ethiopia. Prof. Pasternak is the Head of the Institute for Agriculture & Applied Biology at Ben-Gurion University and Scientific Coordinator of IPALAC.

“We built a remarkably easy system at a relatively low cost that is simple to maintain,” explains model garden creator Dov Pasternak, “which is why it works.”

Mr. Eshetu is about to complete his research collaboration in Israel. Upon his return to Ethiopia, Mr. Eshetu hopes to follow a five-year plan, developed by IPALAC, to introduce widespread usage of the LPDI system in the region.

IPALAC is an initiative designed to share relevant aspects of the Israeli experience in combating desertification, with countries of the developing world, particularly Africa. The program has traditionally worked with local farmers teaching them to grow hardier plants.

For more information, contact Prof. Dov Pasternak at 972-7-646-1972

Or, BGU Spokesperson Amir Rozenblit at 972-646-1802/972-7-647-7717 or by e-mail, rosenbli@bgumail.bgu.ac.il

Picture caption:

Back to Africa
Ethiopian Ambassador to Israel, the Hon. Zewde Otoro, visits the model African Market Garden at the Institute for Agriculture & Applied Biology at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev on July 27. The garden was created by a scientific team headed by Institute director Dov Pasternak, in coordination with Mr. Fassil Eshetu,) a technician from the Water Technology Institute in Arbaminch, Ethiopia. The Garden was developed in conjunction with the Israeli company Netafim Irrigations systems and costs one-tenth of systems currently available.

Credit: Dani Machlis/BGU

IPALAC 2 _ From left – Prof. Dov Pasternak, Hon. Zewde Otoro, Ethiopian Ambassador to Israel, Desalegn Alemu Getahun, Advisor the to the Ambassador, and Fassil Eshetu, techniciam from the Water Technology Institute in Arbaminch, Ethiopia.
IPALAC 4 – Dov Pasternak and Hon. Zewde Otoro

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