Warning. This technology has not yet been validated, because it is not yet ready to scale.

Drip Irrigation: Drip Irrigation System

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is a low-pressure irrigation method that slowly applies water directly to the crop root zone through devices called drippers or emitters installed at specific points along driplines. The placement of emitters corresponds to the planting spacing and crop stands, ensuring water is delivered precisely to the root zone rather than other areas. This slow, continuous delivery of water keeps the root zone consistently wet, reducing water loss through evaporation and runoff. Drip irrigation achieves the highest water use efficiency compared to other irrigation methods, with well-designed systems able to reach up to 95% efficiency.

This technology is not yet validated.

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 5/9; level of use unknown

Adults 18 and over: Positive medium

The poor: Positive low

Under 18: No impact

Women: Positive low

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Drip irrigation works well with renewable energy like solar pumps

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Requires less power and irrigation energy cost is substantially reduced

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Drip irrigation conserves soil and water resources, does not create erosion in the field,

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Drip irrigation systems is environmental friendly

Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility

Water use: Much less water used

Improves water productivity significantly

Carbon footprint: More carbon released

Less energy is required for drip operation thus supports decarbonization of agriculture

Problem

High water losses in traditional irrigation: Up to 30–60% of applied water is lost through runoff and deep infiltration, reducing irrigation efficiency.
Inefficient distribution systems: Open canals, sprinklers, and poorly aligned equipment cause evaporation, leaks, and uneven watering.
Surface evaporation: Water applied broadly over soil surfaces evaporates quickly, especially in hot or windy climates, increasing total water demand.
Soil erosion risk: Aggressive or poorly managed water application washes away topsoil and nutrients, reducing soil fertility and long-term productivity.
Drip irrigation challenges: While more efficient, emitters and drip hoses are prone to clogging from debris, minerals, or algae, leading to uneven watering.
Leaks and damages: Faulty pipes, joints, or fittings waste water and raise maintenance costs if not promptly repaired.
Improper scheduling: Overwatering leads to waste, root rot, and nutrient leaching, while underwatering stresses crops and reduces yields.

Solution

Water conservation: Delivers water slowly and directly to roots, reducing overall water use by 30-70% compared to traditional methods.
Minimal conveyance loss: Closed tubing and precise drippers reduce evaporation and runoff, ensuring most water reaches plant roots.
Reduced evaporation: Water is applied near roots in small amounts, keeping soil surface mostly dry and minimizing water loss to evaporation.
Prevention of soil erosion: Low-pressure, slow water delivery prevents runoff and maintains soil structure and fertility.
Improved fertilizer use: Fertilizers can be injected and delivered with water precisely to roots, enhancing nutrient efficiency and reducing chemical waste.
Labor and energy savings: Systems can be automated with timers and sensors, lowering labor costs and energy use compared to high-pressure or manual irrigation.
Precision and adaptability: Drip irrigation can be tailored to different crops, soils, and field layouts for optimal water and nutrient delivery.
Enhanced crop health: Targeted watering limits weed growth and reduces risk of diseases related to overwatering or wet foliage.

Key points to design your project

The Drip Irrigation Implementation Framework provides comprehensive guidance for planning, designing, and scaling drip irrigation projects to promote water-efficient and climate-resilient agriculture. It integrates financial, technical, capacity-building, and institutional components to ensure sustainable adoption and impactful outcomes. This framework supports governments, development partners, and farmers to improve water use efficiency, boost crop productivity, and conserve water resources.

Define the Vision and Objectives

Align your drip irrigation project goals with national priorities such as water conservation, food security, climate adaptation, and sustainable agriculture.
Engage farming communities early to foster ownership and long-term success.

Develop a Financial Sustainability Plan

Mobilize funding from government budgets, international development funds, and climate resilience grants.
Encourage farmer cooperatives and peer learning to reduce costs and promote scaling.

Assess Capacity and Technical Needs

Identify gaps in technical knowledge and skills for system design, installation, and maintenance.
Provide targeted training for extension agents, farmers, and local technicians.

Conduct a Site-Specific Needs Assessment

Work with agronomists and local stakeholders to assess soil type, crop water requirements, and water source quality.
Adapt the drip irrigation layout and components to fit local environmental conditions.

Plan System Design and Installation

Design the layout considering crop spacing, topography, and water flow rates.
Select appropriate components: pipes, emitters, filters, valves, pressure regulators.
Follow best installation practices including water source and pressure setup, piping installation, emitter placement, and system testing.

Implement Monitoring and Governance Strategies

Establish systems to track water usage, crop performance, and system maintenance.
Integrate monitoring data into national agriculture and climate adaptation programs.

Monitor, Evaluate, and Improve

Regularly assess project impacts on water savings, crop yield, and farmer livelihoods using data and feedback.
Adjust strategies as needed to improve efficiency, address challenges, and respond to climate variability.

By applying this structured approach, governments can drive the successful adoption of drip irrigation technologies that enhance agricultural sustainability, improve productivity, and ensure efficient water use in increasingly water-scarce environments.

50 -- 300 USD

Drip kit covering an area of approximately 100-500 m²

8,000 - 10,000 USD/Ha

Cost range of commercial drip irrigation systems.

500 - 700 USD/Ha

Estimated energy cost for commercial drip irrigation systems.

1,000 - 5,000 L

Volume range of PVC storage tanks.

0.2 - 0.3 Bar

Pressure generated by storage tanks at 1-2m height.

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Benin	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Egypt	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
South Africa	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid				–
Subhumid		–		–
Humid	–	–	–	–

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

It increases crop yields significantly by providing precise and consistent water supply, enhancing food production and security.

Goal 6: clean water and sanitation

By reducing water use by up to 60%, it promotes sustainable water management, conserving freshwater resources and reducing water stress.

Goal 13: climate action

It helps farmers adapt to drought and changing rainfall patterns by ensuring reliable irrigation, boosting resilience to climate change.

Familiarize with the system: Study the installation manual and understand the components such as water source, storage tank or pump, mainline, lateral driplines, emitters/drippers, valves, and filters.
Prepare the land: Clear the field, prepare plant beds or ridges, and ensure the crop spacing matches the recommended lateral and emitter spacing.
Set up water source and pressure system: Place an elevated water storage tank or install a pump if needed to provide a low-pressure flow (0.2-0.3 bar for small systems, up to 1-2 bar for larger ones).
Lay out the irrigation lines: Connect the main water supply line from the tank or pump, then install sub-main and lateral lines following the planting layout.
Install emitters/drippers: Attach emitters along the laterals at positions correlating with plant roots. Emitters can be inline or mounted and may be pressure-compensated for uneven terrain.
Secure and finish setup: Use end stoppers or plugs to close lateral line ends, install valves and filters, and connect necessary accessories like pressure gauges and water meters.
Test and flush system: Fill the tank with water, open valves sequentially, and ensure emitters supply water uniformly. Flush lines before final sealing to remove debris.
Operate and maintain: Use good quality water, clean filters and emitters regularly, flush lines after fertigation, and monitor system pressure to prevent clogging and maintain efficiency.
Scale considerations: For small kits (100-500 m²), installation can be straightforward. For larger farms (>1 acre), professional design and installation aid is recommended, including evaluation, custom design, and after-sale services.

Last updated on 24 September 2025

International Water Management Institute
Adebayo Oke

Commodities

Vegetable crop Bananas & plantains Pepper Tomato + 1 more

Sustainable Development Goals Details ›

Subcategory

Water management

Value chain step

Production

Solution

Water losses soil degradation

Toolkits

IWMI technologies toolkit

Tested/adopted in Details ›

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Where it can be used Details ›

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones.

Target groups

Farmers Advisory and Extension Services

IWMI technologies toolkit

Drip Irrigation: Drip Irrigation System

Problem

Solution