Sakkia

Sakkia is a traditional form of water-lifting device primarily used in agriculture, particularly in parts of the Middle East and South Asia. It is a simple yet effective mechanism that relies on a continuous loop of buckets or containers attached to a rope or chain, which is powered by human or animal effort. The sakkia typically consists of a large wheel that rotates around a horizontal axle. The buckets are suspended from the rim of this wheel and are designed to scoop water from a source, such as a well or a canal, as the wheel turns. As the wheel continues to rotate, the filled buckets are lifted to a higher level and then emptied into an irrigation channel or reservoir.

The operation of a sakkia is usually driven by a draft animal, such as a donkey or a camel, walking in a circular path around the wheel. The animal's movement turns a larger, vertical gear connected to the horizontal axle of the wheel, causing it to rotate. Alternatively, manual labor can be employed to turn the axle directly. The efficiency of the sakkia is dependent on the depth of the water source and the power input. Despite the advent of modern irrigation technologies, the sakkia remains in use in some rural areas due to its low cost, simplicity of construction, and reliance on readily available resources. Its historical significance lies in its role in enabling agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions for centuries.