Design and Evaluation of a Treadle Pump for Dry Season Farming in Borno State

This study involves the design, fabrication, and field evaluation of a treadle pump for dry season smallholder irrigation in Borno State, North East Nigeria. Dry season farming in Borno State depends heavily on shallow groundwater accessible from seasonal rivers, but manual lifting using hand pumps and buckets is extremely labour-intensive and limits irrigated area per household. Treadle pumps, operated by human foot power and capable of lifting water from depths of up to 7 metres at high flow rates, offer a practical low-cost intermediate technology for improving dry season irrigation water access. This study designs a twin-cylinder piston treadle pump using locally procured materials including mild steel cylinders, natural rubber seals, and wooden treadle frame, assembled in Maiduguri. Field performance tests are conducted at Jere and Konduga sites over two dry seasons. Performance parameters include discharge rate, operating depth, power requirement, and irrigated area per day. Findings show that the fabricated pump achieves average discharge of 1.8 cubic metres per hour at 5 metres depth, enabling irrigation of approximately 0.12 hectare per day with one operator. Energy expenditure is within sustainable human physical limits. The pump enables dry season vegetable production generating average net income of 82,000 naira per household per season. The study concludes that the designed treadle pump is an effective dry season water access technology for Borno State farmers. It recommends scaled fabrication and distribution through the state ADP system.

Keywords: treadle pump, dry season irrigation, Borno State, smallholder farming, water lifting.