The Saajhi Stepping Pump is a product developed as part of Xylem’s Essence of Life (EOL) initiative.
Launched in 2013, the Saajhi pump was designed for rural agriculture as a solution for smallholder farmers to irrigate their land more efficiently. The pump uses human weight and motion to move water, resulting in three times or greater crop yield compared with rain-fed fields, and more than a 25% reduction in labour time compared with traditional furrow irrigation.
The Saajhi Stepping Pump is part of Xylem’s Essence of Life business model, which works with citizens and public and private partners to understand the needs of and develop solutions for rural farmers in developing nations.
“This award is a testament to our revolutionary vision for the EOL business and the work our team is doing every day on the ground and in rural communities,” said Keith Teichmann, Xylem’s director of innovative networks and marketing. “The Saajhi Stepping Pump is improving the way smallholder farmers tend to their crops and we’re humbled and honoured to field a product capable of improving the livelihoods of those in these communities.”
The Core77 Design Awards recognise excellence in all areas of design enterprise.