How to choose the best irrigation system for your crop

Overhead irrigation is more affordable at the point of installation but has an energy recurring cost because a water pump must be used to power the system. Its water use is inefficient and sometimes wasteful. [Courtesy]

Choosing an irrigation system for your crop is a key consideration in any commercial farming venture. The right system guarantees high yield, efficiency, environmental preservation, and profitability.

Many smallholder farmers in Kenya still use the ancient furrow irrigation system, which though cheap is water wasteful, laborious, and heavily leaches the soil, which in turn significantly limits crop yield. Below, we look at key considerations when choosing a system: