DFID cites research showing ‘that good irrigation can increase productivity by over 100 per cent’

The Department for International Development is offering a total of £800,000 for organisations to develop affordable, solar-powered irrigation systems for use in developing regions.

5 October 2015 – The Department for International Development (DFID) is to invest up to £800,000 in projects that will develop portable and cheap irrigation pumps for use in developing regions around the world, especially sub-Saharan Africa.

Studies show that good irrigation can increase productivity by over 100 per cent but most African smallholders can’t afford traditional irrigation equipment. Treadle pumps are labour intensive and often not suitable for women farmers. Motorised pumps have high running costs.

The proposed pump should: have a production cost of £30; be lightweight; work with existing irrigation systems; be easy to use and maintain; be able to lift 7m with a daily volume of 6m3; work in both sunshine and light cloud; be robust and able to withstand extremes of climate.

Innovate UK will run this competition through SBRI, the Small Business Research Initiative. We will offer businesses with the most promising solution a contract with DFID to test and prove their innovation.

We expect projects to have a value of up to £50,000. Successful applicants will need to show their route to market in Africa.

For further information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development or apply to the competition.