Introduction

Peace Corps volunteers are daily confronted with unknowns, situations for which their prior experience and training may not have prepared them. In an effort to remove, at least partially, one of the potential unknowns in their new world, this training program has been developed.

Given a basic understanding of irrigation principles and the requisite skills involved, the PCV will be able to help a farm family or a rural community evaluate the potential for and, if appropriate, develop a simple irrigation system or more effectively utilize an already existing system.

The authors realize fully the limitations of a two week training program in a subject as technically complex as irrigation. At the same time, they offer this with confidence, feeling that they will have provided the volunteer with the concepts and technical skills needed to operate intelligently in this complex area. Equally important, the volunteer will also know his or her limitations.