PUMP
During our stay in DAPP TTC Chilangoma, we were invited to take part of a presentation that took place in the NHQ. A team of 5 elements from Global Solar Ltd came to us with a new concept of waterpump - a pump that can be powered by a motorcycle engine.
What a surprise for us! We knew about treadle pumps, that easily can be found in the markets in Malawi, also about solar water pump and bike water pump but we didn’t have any clue about motorbike water pump. This was an interesting opportunity to learn more about innovations that can make a difference in the lives of rural farmers.
More than ever this kind of technologies are most than welcome. In a country like Malawi where 85 percent of the population depend upon rain-fed agriculture, if we don’t find alternatives to minimize the consequences of climate change, many families will find themselves living in desperate times. In fact, this year due to severe droughts, UN reported that 14 million people in Southern Africa are facing starvation because of shortage of food production. The most affected by last year’s poor rains is precisely Malawi.
Waterpump powered by sun or by a motorcycle it’s a card that cannot be discarded in this game against the sequels of climate change since irrigation system can, indeed, enhance food production and alleviate poverty and hunger.
The motorcycle waterpump has a very simple mechanism and can be used in all motorcycle that can be found in any market, independently of their brand. The pump is mounted to the engine shaft, which drives it as it pumps the water from its source.
There are different adaptors that differ according to the brand of the motorcycle. The installation is basic and takes just few minutes.
This pump can pump a total of 22,000 to 40,000 liters of water per hour and consumes 0.2 liters of petrol in an hour. The engine has the ability to pump water to as far as 50 meters uphill.
The advantage of this system is that motorcycles are accessible to almost every place and are not very expensive. For instance, farmers could create a cooperative and invest in one of these for group irrigation. Also here in Malawi, almost in every community there is a member that has a motorcycle, so it would not be difficult for a community to find an agreement to rent this motorcycle for drip irrigation.
This innovation was developed by a group of youths in Kenya. We believe that self-innovation like this can sustain food production. The local communities must continue developing their own ways of dealing with climate change.
“If not us, who? If not now, when?� John Kennedy