Bamboo Treadle Pump helps to deliver food security In her early twenties, with two young children, Mrs. Kalpana Roy from West Bengal stands firm and vibrant, exuding a sense of determination, “there is no shortage of food in our house!” she says. Mrs. Kalpana Roy has a long tale to tell about how her family, through savings from wage work, had bought 3 bighas (almost an acre) of land a few years back in her village in northern part of West Bengal in India. More importantly, a year ago they bought a bamboo treadle pump that has changed their lives significantly. Kalpana does most of the farming activities. Her husband Biren manages a paan-beedi (betel leaf and tobacco) shop in his village close to his house. Biren’s mother is old but helps Kalpana on the farm. His two brothers work in a stone quarry in Rajasthan. Earlier Biren had his stint as a wageworker in a quarry in Rajasthan. After marriage, however, he stopped going to Rajasthan and has settled down to farming and managing his shop. His savings from wage work in Rajasthan came in handy for buying the three bighas of land. Before marriage Kalpana had never worked on a farm. However, she now revels in pumping the treadle for long hours and proudly tells everyone: “Come and see me treadling the pump from morning till evening when we water the china rice fields.” When asked whether it is difficult to pump for long hours, Kalpana clarifies: “In the beginning, my thighs and legs used to pain. Now I have no problems”. She continues: “Initially I knew nothing about farming. By interacting with others, I picked up a lot. I now do nearly everything on our farm. My mother-in-law gives me a helping hand but she is old…” When asked about who decides what is to be cultivated, Kalpana replies: “My husband does that, since he knows what sells for how much. He even decides which seeds to buy and what fertiliser to use. He also instructs me everyday what I need to do before he goes to the market.” Kalpana informs that her husband purchases the seeds, ploughs the land, rents the diesel to water the paddy fields and sells the vegetables and rice in the market. “Do you go to the market to sell vegetables?” “No”, is her firm reply. “My husband sells the vegetables and other farm produce and keeps the money with him. We are working hard to save money so that we can buy more land.” With the treadle pump, life indeed has been different for the Roys. Kalpana says with a satisfied tone in her voice: “There is no shortage of food in our house; nor is there shortage of water. Since we grow vegetables, we consume a lot too.” In order to get her five-year-old daughter admitted in a good school, Kalpana has recently engaged a tutor to whom she pays a monthly fee of Rs.25. Source: International Development Enterprises (India) International Development Enterprises (IDE) is a leading authority on the development of small-scale irrigation and, more importantly, on the mass dissemination of simple, efficient, appropriate and environmentally sustainable technologies in developing countries through the private sector and NGOs. << country/story review