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[[Image:Bamboo_screens.PNG|thumb|right|200px|Low-cost bamboo screens that improve pumping efficiency, 4m long. Photo: NWP.]]

Small-scale irrigation in India usually involves the use of diesel or electric-powered suction pumps, drawing water from water tables down to 7 m deep. The India-North Bengal Terai Development Project carried out pump energy analysis, which showed that tube well screens excessively restricted water flow, resulting in low overall pumping efficiency. Improving these screens resulted in a reduction of fuel consumption of over 40%. Since publication of this innovation, thousands of wells have been fitted with the new screens, with benefits for the profitability of farming and for reducing CO2 emissions.