IDE India's Journey towards Facilitation in Irrigation Technology, 2005

Description
IDEI has been working in India for twelve years, where it promotes two key technologies: the treadle pump and drip irrigation. The treadle pump program started in 1991 and continues to date. The drip irrigation program started in 1996, but caught on fully only in 1999. Since a major part of IDEI's experience
has been with the treadle pump program, this case study focuses on this technology.

The framework used for the study is the role that IDEI plays within the Product Life Cycle (PLC) of the technology. The PLC concept assesses changes that are normally made as a product passes through each stage of its life cycle. To say that a product has a life cycle is to say that:
- products have a limited life
- sales pass through distinct stages, each of which poses different challenges
- products require different strategies at each stage

Most PLCs are likely to be bell shaped (although the bell shapes may vary) and characterized by the following phases:
1. research and development, followed by product introduction
2. growth
3. maturity
4. decline

This case study analyzes the progression of the treadle pump program and the varying strategies that IDEI adopted for each phase of the product's life cycle. The case also tracks the change in IDEI's roles in these phases. The
analysis continues through the maturity phase.



Associated Activities and Documents
Market Assessment
»	IDE in Bangladesh & India - MA model to create markets for rural poor, 2003
Implementation
»	Creating Markets for the Poor with Micro Irrigation Technologies, IDE-India, USAID, 2003
Impact Assessment
»	A Model for Pro-Poor Wealth Creation through Small-Plot Irrigation and Integrated Service Provision, IDE India and Nepal 2004
Synthesis Documents
»	IDE PRISM Guidelines and Manual - Linking rural poor to markets & irrigation technology, 2005