Chapin farm kit

Layout of Chapin system. Drawing: RELMA.

Garden drip irrigation kits are produced by Chapin Watermatics in the USA. The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) has been involved in promoting the use of this kit under the name “eighth-acre kit” because each unit is commonly set to irrigate a 500 m2 area.

Construction, operations and maintenance

Assembly instructions

1. Use a hose hole punch to make a precise hole for connecting the drip lines to the header hose. The hole location is marked along the header hose by marking the first at 37.5 cm and thereafter at intervals of 75 cm.
2. Lay out the header hose and insert a connecting tube in each hole. The other side of the connecting tube is attached to the barb fitting.
3. Connect a 1–∫” screen filter/ pressure regulator assembly to one end of the header hose closest to the water source. The other end is closed using the end cap.
4. Connect the water source to the filter.
5. Cut 20 drip lines each 30 m long from the roll of drip tube.
6. Lay the drip lines perpendicularly to the header hose.
7. Connect the drip line to the head via the barb fitting on the connecting tube.
8. Connect the drip lock fittings to each drip line. The ends of the drip lines are closed with the aid of the end closures.

For further information contact Chapin Living Waters Foundation or the Small Scale Drip Irrigation Project, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.

Acknowledgements

• Sijali, Isaya V. DRIP IRRIGATION: Options for smallholder farmers in eastern and southern Africa. RELMA, 2001.