(National University of Science and Technology (NUST)., 2007-07-17) Dewa, Mncedisi; Mhlanga, Samson; Maphosa, N.; Phuthi, Nduduzo
The paper set to discuss the research to develop a machine that collects water from
flooded rivers and pumps it to a reservoir so that it can be used to water crops during
the interludes of dry spells that characterize the Zimbabwe rain season. This water is
not necessary intended to irrigate the crop on full scale, but just to bridge the crop and
sustain it during the critical weeks of the dry spells which usually stresses the crop
beyond recovery even after the rains resume.
The simple machine designed relies totally on the force of the flood water to pump
water from the river and send it to the reservoir, thus making it possible for the
machine to be used in the rural areas where there is no electricity. The cost of the model
that was built is given as well as the pictorial view of the model.