The Simple Water Pump That's Changing Lives Across the World

The Simple Water Pump That's Changing Lives Across the World | Wired Design | Wired.com:
"But gear wasn’t the problem; the real challenge was changing behavior. “We spend all our time in the field, talking about irrigation and how much money they can make,” Fisher says. “Then we have to sell them a big-ticket item they’ve never seen before.” 
But it’s working.
Kick­Start has already sold 230,000 pumps, currently priced at $75 to $160 each.
Now they’re developing solar-­powered pumps, versions that can tap deeper water sources, and new financing models to reach more farmers.

The benefits are tangible: The pumps have increased farm incomes by 500 percent on average, helping move 740,000 people out of poverty. “If you’re poor, your number one need is a way to make more money,” Fisher says. Cheap, simple machines might be the best approach."