Drought has caused thousands of hectares of rice and crops in the Central provinces to wither. Traditional methods like buckets and pumps have become ineffective. At this critical moment, Nguyen Tat Hai, a farmer from Quỳ Hợp, Nghe An, introduced a high-efficiency foot-powered water pump to the market. It quickly became a hot seller.
In 1996, Hai left his military service and returned to his hometown (Dong Hop commune, Quỳ Hợp, Nghe An). The Central region, with its white sandy soil, hot winds, and scorching summer sun, faced severe water shortages affecting both people and livestock. Hai’s family cultivated 6 sao (approximately 2,500 square meters) of rice fields by a stream, yet they struggled to irrigate their crops. “Modern pumps are too expensive for us farmers. My hometown is remote, and the national electricity grid hasn’t reached us yet. The cheaper pumps from China consume too much gasoline. Thus, for generations, farmers have relied on traditional buckets.” – Hai shared.
The lack of irrigation meant that Hai’s rice fields, like many in Dong Hop commune, produced poor yields. In good years, his family harvested only 270 kilograms of rice. In years of drought, they faced hunger. Concerned for his family, he began thinking about creating a water pump that didn’t require electricity or fuel.
He recalled the book “The Art of Invention” by Asule (from the former Soviet Union) and “Scientific Management” by Taylor, which he had acquired during his military service. He diligently read these books and researched various calculations on water supply efficiency, force, machine structure, materials, convenience, and machine weight to develop a comprehensive water pump.
He noted: “I referred to the foot-powered water pump from Bangladesh introduced to Vietnam by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). However, this pump was labor-intensive; only strong individuals could operate it, while smaller individuals like me could only watch. Its pumping capacity was limited to 6 cubic meters per hour, which was insufficient for the mountainous region’s irrigation needs.”
After thorough analysis and improvement, by the end of 2000, Hai’s foot-powered water pump was developed with an ideal water supply capacity of 15 cubic meters per hour. However, it was bulky and heavy, suitable only for his fields’ terrain. Eager to create a pump that could be used across various terrains and was easy to transport, he continued his research.
Initially, he aimed to modify the lever system. After much effort, he discovered a way to incorporate two systems of double levers into the pump’s structure, reducing the force required to operate it. “With just over 8 kg of force, the pump can function. Even a primary school child can help their parents irrigate the fields.” – he explained.
With reduced labor demands, he also designed a seating area where a student could study while pumping water. He revealed: “At the top of the pole, I attached a wooden shelf for users to rest their hands while operating the pump, which also serves as a place for students to study while using the machine.”
After nearly four years of modifications and improvements, Hai’s foot-powered water pump was completed. The equipment needed for its production fits into a small bag (8.5 kg), making it transportable to any terrain, with a capacity equivalent to eight individuals using traditional buckets and twice that of a 370 kW Chinese pump, all for only 300,000 VND per unit.
Without any flashy advertisements, Hai’s water pump quickly gained recognition among the Dong Hop community. They became his first customers, leading him to name his invention the “Dong Hop Water Pump.”
He confidently stated: “The Dong Hop Water Pump can be widely adopted by rice farmers in geographically fragmented mountainous areas like my hometown. I am striving to replace the water pumps produced in Bangladesh with this one.“
