Experience record
Converting a desert farm to drip irrigation without losing a season
How a 12-hectare vegetable farm switched to drip irrigation in phases and cut water use by 40%.
Published 19 Oct 2026 · Reviewed 19 Oct 2026
Context
The farm used flood irrigation from a brackish well and was losing yield to salinity.
What was done
We converted one block at a time, starting with the most saline plot, and trained two workers as system caretakers.
Result
Water use fell about 40% in the first year and tomato yield recovered by the second.
Lessons
Phase the change, flush lines weekly, and budget for filters.