Small-scale drip irrigation improves productivity

Farmers in the northern regions of Namibia are now using a combination of nuclear techniques and water-saving irrigation technology to water their fields. This is known as small-scale drip irrigation, and was installed with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in the Kavango East, Kavango West, Omusati and Oshikoto regions. According to IAEA, cosmic ray neutron sensors - which provide real-time data on soil moisture - have allowed farmers to deliver small but precise amounts of water directly to plants. “Drip irrigation, which is made possible with the help of nuclear and isotopic techniques that can measure moisture levels in both the soil and the plants, enables farmers to work out exactly how much water and nutrients to use and when.”The IAEA said this allows water to be fed to plants through a network of pipes or narrow tubes that deliver water directly to either the base or the root. The process helps to reduce water use. Implemented as part of an IAEA technical cooperation project which started in 2020, this drip irrigation system has helped increase irrigation water use efficiency by over 80% compared to rainfed agriculture, and has improved yields by up to 70% in the farmers' fields that were part of the project.Unpredictable rainsAccording to the agency, most smallholder farmers in Namibia rely solely on rainfall for crop production. “However, scarce and unpredictable rains as well as poor soil fertility mean yields of the country’s staple food crops remain low. At any stage of plant growth — be it after sowing or during flowering — drought adversely affects its development, resulting in low productivity and weak harvest.”According to Moses Gaeseb, a farmer from Tsumeb, the installation of the small-scale drip irrigation system - with the help of irrigation information on when and how much to apply - has helped increase crop production on his farm from once a year to almost all-year-round. He had the equipment installed in September 2020. Gaeseb cultivates maize, tomatoes, green peppers and watermelons. His farm used to rely on a diesel water pump, but the high cost limited his agricultural output. He and other farmers participated in demonstration trials coordinated by the IAEA and FAO. They received small-scale, solar-powered drip irrigation equipment capable of filling a 10 000-litre water tank within an hour.New lifeAnother farmer from Oshikoto, Andreas Naoseb - who also took part in the project - said before the drip irrigation system was installed, his 10-hectare land had been lying idle without being utilised for crop or animal production.He explained that the new equipment has breathed new life into the farm, uniting his family around the business and providing income throughout the year.The IAEA and FAO are working with scientists in Namibia to advance the application of drip irrigation to protect crops amid severe droughts.“Drip irrigation provides the minimum amount of water needed for crops to flourish and thrive, to mitigate the effects of unprecedented droughts at any crop growth stages, helping local farmers substantially increase yields with less water and prevent water loss due to evaporation,” Joseph Adu-Gyamfi, integrated soil fertility management specialist at the joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, said.Enhance food securityAccording to IAEA, the Namibian government is developing programmes to enhance food security and strengthen food production. The plan includes increasing yields of major crops - such as maize, sorghum and cowpea - by 25 to 50 tonnes, it said. As part of these efforts, government is exploring the possibility of introducing more small-scale drip irrigation systems to increase the efficiency of agricultural output, protect water resources and expand the cultivation of other high-value crops, such as onions, tomatoes, cabbages and groundnuts, including during the off-season.

Small-scale drip irrigation improves productivity

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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Small-scale drip irrigation improves productivity

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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