Treadle pump: A low cost irrigation option for marginal farmers

India, particularly the eastern states is a land of more than 14 million marginal farmers and about 3 lakh new marginal farms are being added every year due to continued division of farm holdings. Their production and productivity are often been risky and relatively of low return due to erratic rainfall and lack of assured irrigation. They have limited investment capacity to invest in quality agricultural inputs and crop diversification to enhance the income and if they do somehow they substantially fails due to erratic rainfall and absence of assured irrigation water Characteristically they are having more family labours but economic condition is stand still due to lack of employment opportunity. This paper presents the scenario and scope of treadle pump which could be a boon for these marginal farmers in improving the production and productivity of small piece of land and engagement to family labours in gainful employment.