Team story: Teamwork of two makes the irrigation work - 03/24

I recently purchased a farm land touching dam water. In Jun 2023, I planted 300 fruit saplings. However, a challenge was that the farm lacked electricity, making borewell pump impractical for irrigation. 

Cost effective solution? A reliable Honda Petrol engine pump to draw water from the dam, initially handling the 50 foot headlift at the end. But as the dry months approached, the receding dam water increased the pump's workload. In Jan 2024, the receding water level overwhelmed the solo pump. With six crucial irrigation months remaining, the saplings' survival was at stake.

This is where the farm's resourceful caretaker stepped in with a brilliant plan: a two-pump system. The first pump (refer image where "1" is written) would lift the water to a midway point, acting as a relay station. Then, the second pump would take over and deliver the water to the thirsty plants (refer image showing buffer tank and 2nd pump).

This solution relied on one crucial element: an intermediate storage tank. Without this "buffer," the system would collapse. If the second pump ran dry for even a moment, air would enter the line, disrupting the flow.

This two-pump system has been a game-changer. We can now pump water from double the distance compared to last summer, ensuring our young orchard continues to thrive.

This experience translates beautifully to teamwork on complex deliverables. Imagine a two-person team tackling a demanding project. One person lays the groundwork, gathering information and setting the stage. The other person then takes over with the heavy lifting, analyzing the data and generating insights.

Just like the irrigation system needs the intermediate storage tank, this teamwork approach requires a "buffer" of time. The first person completes their stage efficiently before the second person begins. If both work simultaneously, they might get overwhelmed, hindering progress and potentially "collapsing" the project.

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