1. The irrigation pump in use
The Food and Agriculture Organization states that irrigation can increase crop yield 100-400% so this pump can easily benefit farmers in developing countries. Also, it allows for crops to grow year round, even in the dry seasons when food supplies are minimal and the market prices are high. It can also allow for a greater diversity of cash crops like fruits and vegetables. The farmers can sell these high value crops in the marketplace and can help increase their net incomes by an average of ten times.
Use of the MoneyMaker Pump in Africa
2. Pump use in Africa
As well as being economically sound, the pump is environmentally sound. As mentioned before, the pump is entirely human powered so there is no use of fuel or energy (also a good economical factor). It is also water efficient in that there is no water waste. As well, this form of irrigation (unlike flood irrigation) does not lead to build of salts in the soil which can ruin crop and create conditions in the soil which are unsuitable to grow in.
The KickStart organization has many other technologies and ideas which help farmers in Africa such as using SMS technology (text messaging) to keep in touch with the farmers and to supply information on new products. They also produce a block press for easily creating building bricks and a cooking oil press to produce and sell cooking oils (a rather expensive product in African countries).
Agriculture in third world countries is crucial to the development of the country and is the one of the main factors in increasing the economy. The urbanization of the slums of the world depends partially on economic development, thus making agriculture a crucial part of urbanizing a third world society. Agriculture can also be beneficial in an already urbanized society. Urban Farming is a charity in Detroit who help to turn urban wastelands into vegetable garden to help feed the poor residents of the area. This concept is a way of maintaining a pre-existing urbanity as well as helping to boost the economy, especially in Detroit where the economy is in a downfall and they are need of new, marketable ideas.
3. Urban farming in Detroit
These developing forms of urban agriculture can definitely have come impact on architecture. New designs can be created that incorporate these concepts into a space. These designs could include rooftop gardens, maximize yard space, and utilize water systems that stress irrigation for farming.
1."Super MoneyMaker," http://www.kickstart.org/products/super-moneymaker (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 , 8pm).
2. "MoneyMaker Irrigation Pumps," January 2009, http://www.kickstart.org/news/KickStart_B2B_BrochureJan09.pdf (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 , 8pm).
3. Matthew Wells, "Urban famring takes root in Detroit" July 10, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7495717.stm (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 , 8pm).
Information Sources:
"Super MoneyMaker," http://www.kickstart.org/products/super-moneymaker (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 , 8pm).
"Kickstart Technologies: irrigation, and cooking oil human powered pumps," July 25, 2007, http://www.afrigadget.com/2007/07/25/kickstart-technologies-irrigation-and-cooking-oil-human-powered-pumps/ (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 ,
8pm).
Rita Kiloo, "An SMS 'kickstart' for Kenyan farmers," October 27, 2009, http://www.kiwanja.net/blog/2009/10/an-sms-kickstart-for-kenyan-farmers/
((accessed Nov. 2, 2009 ,
8pm).
Giok Ling Ooi and Kai Hong Phua, "Urbanization and Slum Formation" March 27, 2007, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1891640/ (accessed Nov. 2,
2009 , 8pm).
Matthew Wells, "Urban famring takes root in Detroit" July 10, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7495717.stm (accessed Nov. 2, 2009 , 8pm).
