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https://e-catalogs.taat-africa.org/org/technologies/zainer-low-cost-zai-field-preparation
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Zainer: Low-cost Zai field preparation

Zainer

Zainer is a scalable mechanization technology that strengthens climate resilient agricultural systems by facilitating the rapid adoption of Zai farming practices in dry and arid areas. Powered by a 5 hp petrol engine, it drills planting holes approximately 25 cm deep in about 4 seconds and creates up to 17 pits per minute. By reducing labor requirements from about 300 hours to 40 hours per hectare, the technology improves rainwater harvesting, reduces production costs, and supports sustainable agricultural intensification in vulnerable farming systems.

2

This technology is pre-validated.

9•9

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 9/9; level of use 9/9

Positive impacts: 40

Target Group Positive Impacts
Women smallholder farmers in degraded dryland areas
  • Women farmers gain access to mechanized land restoration through Zainer use.
  • They increase productivity by restoring degraded soils and improving crop yields.
  • Faster creation of zaï planting basins reduces labor burden in field preparation.
  • Participation in training improves technical skills in soil restoration practices.
  • Greater control over production through improved land quality and fertility.
Youth farmers in rural or marginalized regions
  • Youth access opportunities in mechanized soil restoration services and operations.
  • The tool builds practical skills in agricultural mechanization and land rehabilitation. 
  • Efficient field preparation supports timely cultivation and improved planning.
  • Service-based models enable income generation through restoration activities.
  • Stronger involvement in cooperative land restoration initiatives.
Women-headed households with climate-vulnerable farms
  • Households improve land productivity through restoration of degraded soils.
  • Reduced labor requirements ease field preparation constraints.
  • Improved soil moisture retention increases resilience to climate variability.
  • Adoption of zaï basins reduces risk of crop failure in dry periods.
  • Greater stability in food production and farm decision-making.
Agricultural cooperatives and producer organizations
  • Cooperatives access mechanized solutions for large-scale land restoration.
  • Collective use reduces time and effort for field preparation.
  • Improved productivity across member farms through soil rehabilitation.
  • Opportunity to develop shared service or rental models.
  • Strengthened coordination of restoration and production activities.
Rural service providers and agripreneurs
  • Creation of income-generating services based on mechanized zaï basin formation.
  • Development of rural mechanization service enterprises.
  • Job creation through land restoration activities. 
  • Diversification of agricultural service offerings. 
  • Increased local demand for mechanized soil restoration tools.
NGOs and land restoration projects
  • Faster scaling of soil rehabilitation interventions.
  • Reduced labor costs in field implementation. 
  • Standardized approach to degraded land restoration.
  • Easier monitoring of restored hectares.
  • Improved effectiveness of climate resilience programs.
Agricultural extension agents and technical services
  • Practical tool for field demonstrations and farmer training.
  • Easier promotion of soil and water conservation techniques.
  • Improved adoption of zaï-based restoration practices.
  • Increased efficiency in farmer support activities.
  • Stronger technical capacity building impact.
Rural communities in highly degraded areas
  • Collective access to land restoration technologies.
  • Gradual improvement of communal land productivity.
  • Reduced vulnerability to drought and climate shocks.
  • Improved local food security outcomes.
  • Strengthened community-based agricultural systems.
More...
Unintended impacts: 24
Mitigations: 24
Barriers: 24
Mitigations: 24

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

The technology enables the resilience of the rainfed system and adaptation to climate change impacts.

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Enables in-situ water harvesting that improves soil moisture and water infiltration in dry environment

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Water use: More water used

The technology enabled water harvesting to make more water available in dry season

Problem

  • Limited adoption of proven climate adaptation practices
    The labor intensive nature of Zai pit establishment restricts the scaling of effective water harvesting and soil moisture conservation technologies.
  • High labor burdens reduce the impact of agricultural investments
    Farmers must devote approximately 300 labor hours per hectare to land preparation, limiting productivity gains and technology uptake.
  • Insufficient access to mechanization services
    The lack of affordable mechanization options reduces opportunities to scale climate resilient agricultural practices among smallholder farmers.
  • Persistent vulnerability to climate variability
    Delayed land preparation and low adoption of water harvesting techniques continue to constrain resilience and productivity in dryland farming systems.

Solution

  • Scale climate resilient agricultural practices
    The Zainer facilitates wider adoption of Zai farming by reducing labor requirements from approximately 300 hours to 40 hours per hectare.
  • Reduce labor burdens for smallholder farmers
    Motorized operation decreases physical effort and enables more efficient implementation of water harvesting practices.
  • Improve resilience in dryland farming systems
    Rapid establishment of Zai pits improves rainwater harvesting, water infiltration, and soil moisture conservation in drought prone environments.
  • Support sustainable and scalable mechanization models
    The technology combines low fuel consumption, local repairability, and an operational lifespan of about 5 years, making it suitable for long term development investments.

Key points to design your program

Zainer can be integrated into climate adaptation, land restoration, sustainable intensification, and dryland agriculture programs to improve water harvesting, reduce labor burdens, and strengthen resilience among smallholder farmers. 

To integrate this technology into your project, plan and budget for the following activities and prerequisites:

  • Identify dry and arid production zones where water harvesting and soil moisture conservation can improve agricultural productivity.
  • Establish partnerships with farmer organizations, cooperatives, extension services, mechanization providers, and relevant agricultural stakeholders.
  • Support access to Zainer units, spare parts, maintenance services, and operator training.
  • Conduct demonstrations and training on machine operation, maintenance, pit spacing of 25–30 cm, and pit depth of approximately 25 cm.
  • Promote access for women, youth, and smallholder farmers through cooperative and service provider approaches.
  •  Implement monitoring, learning, and adoption tracking activities throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Track key indicators such as hectares prepared, farmers reached, labor hours saved, adoption rates, and access to mechanization services.

Cost vs. revenue

Data reliability of this estimate:: 60 %

Return on investment 13 %

Every USD invested returns USD 0.13 net income.

Detailed financial information ›

IP

No formal IP rights

Scaling Readiness describes how complete a technology\’s development is and its ability to be scaled. It produces a score that measures a technology\’s readiness along two axes: the level of maturity of the idea itself, and the level to which the technology has been used so far.

Each axis goes from 0 to 9 where 9 is the “ready-to-scale” status. For each technology profile in the e-catalogs we have documented the scaling readiness status from evidence given by the technology providers. The e-catalogs only showcase technologies for which the scaling readiness score is at least 8 for maturity of the idea and 7 for the level of use.

The graph below represents visually the scaling readiness status for this technology, you can see the label of each level by hovering your mouse cursor on the number.

Read more about scaling readiness ›

Scaling readiness score of this technology

Maturity of the idea 9 out of 9

Uncontrolled environment: validated

Level of use 9 out of 9

Common use by intended users, in the real world

Maturity of the idea Level of use
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Positive impact 40

Target Group Positive Impacts
Women smallholder farmers in degraded dryland areas
  • Women farmers gain access to mechanized land restoration through Zainer use.
  • They increase productivity by restoring degraded soils and improving crop yields.
  • Faster creation of zaï planting basins reduces labor burden in field preparation.
  • Participation in training improves technical skills in soil restoration practices.
  • Greater control over production through improved land quality and fertility.
Youth farmers in rural or marginalized regions
  • Youth access opportunities in mechanized soil restoration services and operations.
  • The tool builds practical skills in agricultural mechanization and land rehabilitation. 
  • Efficient field preparation supports timely cultivation and improved planning.
  • Service-based models enable income generation through restoration activities.
  • Stronger involvement in cooperative land restoration initiatives.
Women-headed households with climate-vulnerable farms
  • Households improve land productivity through restoration of degraded soils.
  • Reduced labor requirements ease field preparation constraints.
  • Improved soil moisture retention increases resilience to climate variability.
  • Adoption of zaï basins reduces risk of crop failure in dry periods.
  • Greater stability in food production and farm decision-making.
Agricultural cooperatives and producer organizations
  • Cooperatives access mechanized solutions for large-scale land restoration.
  • Collective use reduces time and effort for field preparation.
  • Improved productivity across member farms through soil rehabilitation.
  • Opportunity to develop shared service or rental models.
  • Strengthened coordination of restoration and production activities.
Rural service providers and agripreneurs
  • Creation of income-generating services based on mechanized zaï basin formation.
  • Development of rural mechanization service enterprises.
  • Job creation through land restoration activities. 
  • Diversification of agricultural service offerings. 
  • Increased local demand for mechanized soil restoration tools.
NGOs and land restoration projects
  • Faster scaling of soil rehabilitation interventions.
  • Reduced labor costs in field implementation. 
  • Standardized approach to degraded land restoration.
  • Easier monitoring of restored hectares.
  • Improved effectiveness of climate resilience programs.
Agricultural extension agents and technical services
  • Practical tool for field demonstrations and farmer training.
  • Easier promotion of soil and water conservation techniques.
  • Improved adoption of zaï-based restoration practices.
  • Increased efficiency in farmer support activities.
  • Stronger technical capacity building impact.
Rural communities in highly degraded areas
  • Collective access to land restoration technologies.
  • Gradual improvement of communal land productivity.
  • Reduced vulnerability to drought and climate shocks.
  • Improved local food security outcomes.
  • Strengthened community-based agricultural systems.

Unintended impact 24

Target Group Unintended Impacts Mitigation Measures
Women smallholder farmers in degraded dryland areas
  • Limited technical skills may affect correct use of mechanized tool.
  • Increased field preparation activity could raise workload during peak seasons.
  • Cultural norms may restrict access to mechanized services.
  • Provide gender-sensitive training and field demonstrations.
  • Ensure shared service models to reduce individual workload.
  • Engage cooperatives and local facilitators for support.
Youth farmers in rural or marginalized regions
  • Expectations of rapid income from mechanized services may be unrealistic.
  • Competition for service provision may create local tensions.
  • Dependence on mechanization may reduce traditional skills.
  • Provide realistic income and business training.
  • Promote cooperative-based service models.
  • Encourage balanced use of traditional and mechanized practices.
Women-headed households with climate-vulnerable farms
  • Mechanized tools may be difficult to access due to cost or availability.
  • Reduced flexibility if relying only on mechanized land preparation.
  • Limited repair services may delay field operations.
  • Promote rental and shared-use models.
  • Combine mechanization with adaptive farming practices. 
  • Strengthen local maintenance and repair networks.
Agricultural cooperatives and producer groups
  • Unequal access to equipment among members may create internal tensions.
  • Poor coordination may reduce efficiency of shared tool use.
  • Overuse of machinery may increase maintenance needs.
  • Establish clear usage and management rules.
  • Promote transparent scheduling systems.
  • Train members on maintenance and tool handling.
Rural service providers and agripreneurs
  • Income may fluctuate depending on seasonal demand.
  • High initial investment may limit entry.
  • Equipment breakdowns may affect service reliability.
  • Support diversified service portfolios.
  • Facilitate access to financing mechanisms.
  • Strengthen local repair and spare parts networks.
NGOs and land restoration programs
  • Limited adaptation to very diverse field conditions.
  • Risk of underuse if not well integrated into programs.
  • Dependence on external support for scaling.
  • Conduct context-specific field testing.
  • Integrate into existing restoration frameworks.
  • Build local capacity for long-term use.
Agricultural extension agents
  • Lack of familiarity with mechanized tools may limit adoption support.
  • Increased workload during training phases.
  • Uneven access to equipment for demonstrations.
  • Provide specialized training on Zainer use.
  • Supply demonstration units for field work.
  • Integrate tool into extension programs.
Rural communities in highly degraded areas
  • Unequal access to mechanized services may create disparities.
  • Over-reliance on machinery may reduce collective traditional practices.
  • Maintenance gaps may slow restoration activities.
  • Promote community-based service systems.
  • Combine mechanized and traditional restoration methods.
  • Strengthen local maintenance ecosystems.

Barriers 24

Target Group Barriers Mitigation Measures
Women smallholder farmers in degraded dryland areas
  • Limited access to mechanized tools due to cost or availability.
  • Cultural norms may restrict participation in mechanized services.
  • Low technical skills affect correct tool use.
  • Promote shared-use and rental service models.
  • Engage women-focused cooperatives and local facilitators.
  • Provide hands-on training and field demonstrations.
Youth farmers in rural or marginalized regions
  • Limited capital to access mechanized equipment or services.
  • Low exposure to land restoration technologies.
  • Weak access to structured agricultural service networks.
  • Offer youth training and practical mechanization programs.
  • Facilitate access to financing and starter service models.
  • Build cooperative and peer-based service networks.
Women-headed households with climate-vulnerable farms
  • Climate variability reduces capacity to invest in land restoration.
  • Limited access to extension services and technical guidance.
  • Compounded vulnerability due to resource and labor constraints.
  • Integrate adaptive land restoration training.
  • Strengthen extension and field support systems.
  • Promote low-cost shared mechanization services.
Agricultural cooperatives and producer groups
  • Unequal access to equipment among members.
  • Coordination challenges in shared tool management.
  • Maintenance costs may limit sustained use.
  • Establish clear governance and usage rules.
  • Organize collective scheduling systems.
  • Train members in maintenance and repair.
Rural service providers and agripreneurs
  • High initial investment for mechanization services.
  • Seasonal demand fluctuations affect income stability.
  • Limited technical repair capacity in rural areas.
  • Support access to credit and financing schemes.
  • Encourage diversified service offerings.
  • Develop local repair and spare parts networks.
NGOs and land restoration programs
  • Difficulty scaling mechanized restoration across diverse terrains.
  • Limited integration with existing programs.
  • Dependence on external technical support.
  • Conduct localized pilot testing before scaling.
  • Integrate Zainer into ongoing restoration initiatives.
  • Build local technical capacity for sustainability.
Agricultural extension agents
  • Limited familiarity with mechanized soil restoration tools
  • Increased workload during training and demonstration phases.
  • Uneven access to equipment for field learning.
  • Provide dedicated training on Zainer operation.
  • Supply demonstration units for extension work.
  • Integrate tool into official advisory programs.
Rural communities in highly degraded areas
  • Unequal access to mechanized services.
  • Dependence on external operators for land preparation.
  • Weak local maintenance systems.
  • Promote community-based service models.
  • Combine mechanized and traditional restoration methods.
  • Strengthen local maintenance and repair capacity.

Cost of the investmentCost of the investment
Sum of all fixed and operational expenses.Sum of all fixed and operational expenses. 		USD 1,600
per hectare
Gross revenueGross revenue
Sum of all income before subtracting costs.Sum of all income before subtracting costs. 		USD 1,800
per hectare
Net incomeNet income
Gross revenue minus total cost.Gross revenue minus total cost. 		USD 200
per hectare
Return on investmentReturn on investment
Percentage of income earned for each dollar invested, calculated as:<br> (income ÷ cost of investment) × 100 Percentage of income earned for each dollar invested, calculated as:
(income ÷ cost of investment) × 100 		13 %
per hectare

References:

  • Template for Cost, Revenue and ROI calculation for TAAT technologies_Zainer.xlsx (XLSX, 28.08 KB)

    • Tested & adopted
    Adopted
    Tested
    Testing ongoing
    Egypt Equatorial Guinea Ethiopia Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burundi Burkina Faso Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Côte d’Ivoire Eritrea Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Cameroon Kenya Libya Liberia Madagascar Mali Malawi Morocco Mauritania Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Republic of the Congo Rwanda Zambia Senegal Sierra Leone Zimbabwe Somalia South Sudan Sudan South Africa Eswatini Tanzania Togo Tunisia Chad Uganda Western Sahara Central African Republic Lesotho
    Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
    Country Testing ongoing Tested Adopted
    This technology has not been tested or adopted in any country.

    This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

    Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
    AEZ Subtropic - warm Subtropic - cool Tropic - warm Tropic - cool
    Arid – – –
    Semiarid – – –
    Subhumid – – –
    Humid – – – –

    Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

    The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

    Sustainable Development Goal 2: zero hunger
    Goal 2: zero hunger

    This technology supports food security and sustainable agriculture goals.

    1. Prepare the Machine
      Ensure the Zainer is in good condition, with the drill bit clean and oiled. Check fuel levels in the 5 hp petrol engine.

    2. Position at the Field
      Move the Zainer to the field and place it at the starting point according to the crop spacing (e.g., 25–30 cm between Zai pits).

    3. Operate the Drill
      Start the engine and press the drill bit into the soil to the desired depth (25 cm). Move to the next planting point and repeat until the field is complete.

    4. Monitor and Adjust
      Ensure consistent pit depth and spacing while drilling. Adjust engine speed or operator technique if necessary for uniform holes.

    5. Clean and Maintain
      After completing field operations, remove dirt and moisture from the machine. Oil the drill bit and other moving metal parts to prevent rust. Perform regular maintenance for long-term operation.

    Downloads

    Last updated on 12 June 2026

    International Water Management Institute
     International Water Management Institute and PRACTICA
    Commodities
    Sorghum/Millet Maize Tomato Pepper Onions + 2 more
    Sustainable Development Goals Details ›
    Sustainable Development Goal 2: zero hunger
    Category
    Equipment
    Subcategory
    Water management
    Value chain step
    Pre-production
    Tested/adopted in Details ›
    Tested & adopted
    Adopted
    Tested
    Testing ongoing
    Where it can be used Details ›

    This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones.

    Target groups
    Farmers
    QR code

    Zainer: Low-cost Zai field preparation

    https://e-catalogs.taat-africa.org/org/technologies/zainer-low-cost-zai-field-preparation

    Last updated on 12 June 2026, printed on 12 June 2026

    Enquiries e-catalogs@taat.africa