Introduction

This manual has been prepared for use by Peace Corps Trainees and Peace Corps Volunteers as a resource in gaining understanding and knowledge of basic irrigation principles and practices. It is intended as a practical handbook easily understood by a generalist. Subjects discussed are those most frequently concerning Volunteers in irrigation activities of agricultural programs.

Many of the irrigation problems, exercises, and equipment descriptions were developed from on-the-job experiences of Volunteers; others are from field observations by professional persons with extensive irrigation experience in developing countries.

This manual conveys information on basic irrigation practices and techniques, with emphasis on explanations and illustrations of irrigation practices that are affected by soil-plant-water relationships.

To be most useful, the manual should be used during training as a teaching guide and instructional tool. While the manual provides useful charts, drawings, structural diagrams and other meaningful information, some of the material presented would be difficult for the average generalist, or by a person with no previous irrigation experience. When the manual is used as part of a training program for trainees preparing for work in irrigated agriculture, it will be a valuable reference source for the Volunteer in the field.

Each principle unit of the manual is complete and substantially self-contained. Topic coverage is sequential but each unit can be used for review or as new material. With the aid of this manual, during and after training, a Peace Corps Volunteer should be able to apply the principles and procedures of acceptable irrigation practices to almost any irrigation problem encountered on farms during service abroad.

When this manual is used in a structured training program conducted, preferably, by an experienced engineer and social scientist (probably an adult education specialist), the training program will not necessarily follow the order presented in the manual. For example, surveying practice may begin earlier in the program than in the manual because considerable field time is required to learn the techniques involved. The education specialist will need to present material throughout the period to prevent monotony and to keep the social aspects from appearing to be an appendage to the successful development of an irrigation project.

This manual is designed to provide close correlation between theoretical irrigation principles and their practical application. Trainers using this manual must remember that practical application by the trainee of the principles presented is a prerequisite to Peace Corps trainee understanding of irrigated agriculture. To accomplish this task in a training program, the training site should provide adequate land (at least five acres for a program with 40 trainees), enough water for the crops grown, and enough appropriate tools to accomplish the degree of sophistication required in a particular program. As illustrated in the manual, however, it is extremely important in instructing Peace Corps trainees on irrigation principles and practices to continually emphasize that large amounts of expensive irrigation equipment are not the only answer to doing a better job in increasing agricultural production. Good water control and management often are more important.

Control devices and irrigation equipment of various kinds are only the tools of water management. What each Peace Corps trainee involved in irrigated agriculture must realize is that the right amount of water applied at the right time will produce the best results. This manual has been designed to help provide that understanding.