AQYSTA’S BARSHA PUMP SIMPLIFIES IRRIGATION

A clean and simple solution for irrigation

One of the latest achievements in environmentally-friendly innovation is the Barsha Pump by start-up company aQysta (ah-KEE-sta). Founded by Pratap Thapa, Lennart Bundelmann and Fred Henny, all engineers from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, aQysta’s mission is to promote economic growth, food security and green practices on a global scale through technological development that optimizes existing resources. The pump, designed to assist agricultural areas in need of field irrigation, functions by redirecting water from a flowing source, such as a river or a canal. The pump will help to reduce pollution in areas currently using such means as gas-powered motors to channel water to crops. The pump is beneficial too in that it is easy for locals to install, maintain and repair. This lends to the efficiency of the pump and significantly reduces its overall cost, resulting in a higher crop yield. Farmers in Nepal have already implemented the Barsha Pump with positive results, and aQysta plans to demonstrate the product’s capabilities in several more selected regions. Climate-KIC recently recognized aQysta as Europe’s most innovative clean-tech venture, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Sida of Sweden and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of The Netherlands (MFA-NL) selected the start-up as one of 17 awardees for Securing Water for Food: A Grand Challenge for Development during World Water Week. Individuals or organizations wishing to utilize the Barsha Pump may request a site survey, which will be followed by an evaluation by aQysta as to the suitability of the site.