Affordable Agriculture Irrigation Systems
This solution addresses the inefficiency and human strain of watering crops manually in Myanmar for cost-constrained farmers
Problem Description
Tools like advanced pumps and drip irrigation systems are a standard of modern farming practices. Compared to manually watering crops, they dramatically limit the amount of labor and effort. Despite many variations on these systems, they are frequently expensive and not well-designed for the needs of cost-constrained farmers in non-industrialized nations. With this challenge in mind, Proximity Designs (the owner of this solution) designs cheap, effective, durable, and easily reproducible irrigation products.Building Blocks
Story
Proximity was established in Myanmar in 2004 . It originally entered the Myanmar rural market with two treadle pumps, 13 staff and a distribution reach of just 600 villages. Now, eight years on, Proximity is accessible to nearly 80% of the rural population, employing a nationwide staff of over 350, and offering a complete range of services that address many of the most pressing needs of rural families.
From 2006 to present Proximity has released a suite of irrigation products that have the ability to immediately improve the lives of farmers. The products - which include four foot-powered water pumps, a complete drip irrigation system and two portable water storage tanks - replace the back-breaking and time-consuming work of hauling water from the well to the field. Designed to work independently, or together, a full set can cost a farmer just $71, but reduce time spent on farming to just a few minutes, and increase yield sizes by 33%. Products are united under the brand name Yetagon.
Sustainable Development Goals
On September 25th 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years. This solution covers the following goals:
Video
Social Progress Index
Photos
Resources
- Myanmar Agriculture in 2011: Old Problems and New Challenges
This research paper is one in a series funded by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. It was prepared for Proximity Designs
- All of Proximity's Irrigation Products
Contributed By
- Aung Ko Ko, Proximity
Solution Stage
One of the 7 stages of an innovation. Learn more
| STAGE | SPECIALIST SKILLS REQUIRED | EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES | RISK LEVEL AND HANDLING | FINANCE REQUIRED | KINDS OF EVIDENCE GENERATED | GOAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growing scaling and spreading6 | Strong leadership, management, implementation skills |
|
MEDIUM |
HIGH | Evidence derived from evaluations in multiple sites, and independently run randomised control trials | Innovation or impact at scale |
Submitted By
Bryan Lehrer
Key Details
Social Progress Index
Personal Freedom and Choice (Agency)Sustainable Development Goals