The Pump Sizing Tool allows for the calculation of the pumping head, the required solar PV module capacity, and selects suitable pump technologies. The DESIGN – Pump Sizing Tool helps design the irrigation system so as to ensure that as little pressure as possible is lost in the system. In addition, it serves as a checklist to identify pressure losses, e.g. due to leaks in an existing system.
Technical support of farmers during the planning phase; data on the daily crop water requirement, mean daily global solar radiation for the design month, country-specific costs of PV panel & pump; availability of financing options
Proper sizing of the components of an SPIS is critical, since an SPIS with insufficient capacity will not satisfy the farmers’ needs and an over dimensioned system will induce unnecessary operation and capital costs. Negligence of the sustainable water yield of water sources may result in water shortage and a depletion of water resources, thus having negative impacts on the farm budget and the environment. It is therefore very important to be in close contact with the farmer during the planning phase and to inform him about the advantages and limits of SPIS.
The final design of the PV pump and irrigation system should be left to experienced system integrators who use computer-based system sizing and simulation tools such as COMPASS, WinCAPS and PVSYST, HydroCALC, GESTAR.
Supporting related economic activities and alternative incomes
Awareness raising and knowledge exchange activities
Successful conservation of sea-turtles in Con Dao National Park
Tagging a mother turtle
Con Dao National Park
Baby turtle running to the sea
Con Dao National Park
The sea-turtle conservation programme was started in Con Dao since mid-1980s. In more than 30 years of implementation, Con Dao national park now has a comprehensive programme of different activities that includes:
Breeding ground surveys and monitoring
Law enforcement: protection/patrolling
Support breeding activities: remove eggs to the hatcheries (support incubation), releasing baby turtles to the sea
Communication and education programme for different target groups, including local schools and fishermen, and visitors
By 2020, outcomes of this programme include:
Identify and protect 17 breading grounds (beaches) in the islands
In 2020, c. 750 mother turtles were recorded breeding from January to November (mostly from May to October).
2,395 hatches (227,858 eggs) were removed to the hatcheries, 2,195 hatches were hatched, 171,949 baby turtles were released to the sea. (197 hatches with 17,139 eggs are still incubation at the time of documentation).
Communication campaigns were organized with army, police, district offices, schools, fisher communities, and visitors.
Collaborate with private sector (Six Senses) to establish a new breeding ground and hatchery in Dat Doc beach.
Collaborate with IUCN to conduct 4 courses for volunteers to support sea-turtle conservation in Con Dao.
- Determination of the National Park management board and related agencies of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
- Support from international conservation communities.
- Support from public.
- Sustainable financing from diverse sources.
The success of the Con Dao sea turtle conservation programme comes from a combination of efforts from the park management, international support, public interest and involvement. In particular, private sector participation is one of the key factors that will help shape in the future an important additional resource for conservation efforts (see BB 3).
Locally produced, low-cost, zero-tillage seeder uses locally available parts and mechanical skills to expand markets for repairs and technical services and create local jobs. This building block has permitted favouring of subsidies for conservation farm machinery and withdrawing of support for those allocated in conventional practices. One of the complementary innovations of this solution as a practice is a locally produced low-cost, zero-tillage seeder. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas worked with national partners and lead farmers to develop, test, and promote the designed or the locally-modified seeders. The designed technology uses local inputs and mechanical skills to expand markets for repairs and technical services and create local jobs.
Work with farmers to develop, test, and promote the modified seeders accompanying CA
Promote local resources
Trainings to farmers in terms of use and agronomic practices
In leadership and awareness, leadership to coordinate efforts to reverse land degradation are scattered and not properly recognized. Therefore, there is a need of local initiatives and tools to enhance involvement and sustainability of the solution. The local technology included in this solution, a low-cost, zero-tillage seeder, has permitted an empowerment of local people through the creation of jobs and use of local inputs.
By training farmers on conservation agriculture, they learn new smart agronomic practices to diversify the cropping systems, save energy and labour and stabilize yields under dryland conditions.
Integrating a gender approach
Participatory engagement by farmers in the training
Educating people on conservation agriculture technique
For the producers and community authorities, there are specific demands for information, training, dialogue and coordination of activities. Innovative agricultural development approaches are needed to inform and demonstrate the benefits of conservation agriculture to farmers. This can be achieved through activities such as: Intensive guidance of farmers to change the centuries-old conventional farming heritage. On-the-job training and creation of ‘conservation agriculture services’ for farmers in areas such as planting and weed control and for support around other practical issues for the adoption of conservation practices.
The reproductive platforms include programmed natural mating plans, Artificial Inseminations, services for pregnancy diagnosis to improve management, estrus synchronization and sires’ certification and the supporting CapDev activities targeting technical staff and farmers, members of the Community Based Breeding Programs’.
Participation of farmers in the trainings
Continuous funding by local institutions
Identification of gaps in knowledge
Continuous engagement by federal and regional actors
The knowledge acquired to support reproductive platforms in support of the breeding programs in low-input systems is composed of modules which can be easily replicated through capacity development and technical fine-tuning. Capacity development of Ethiopian researchers and extension staff must continue to the expansion of Community Based Breeding Program’s and the orientation at the government level to adopt this approach for the genetic improvement of the indigenous sheep and goat breeds. Identifying gaps in the current state of knowledge encourages new investments in research and potential for further replication.
