The type of irrigation you’re describing sounds like drip irrigation, particularly when it’s manually set up for small-scale farming. Drip irrigation involves laying out hoses or tubes with small holes or nozzles close to the base of each plant. This system delivers water directly to the roots of plants, minimizing water loss due to evaporation and reducing the spread of weed seeds compared to more traditional forms of irrigation like flooding or sprinkler systems.

Setting up a drip irrigation system can indeed be labor-intensive, especially when done manually, as each line must be correctly positioned and maintained to ensure efficient water delivery. However, once installed, drip irrigation is highly efficient in terms of water use and can be very beneficial for small-scale farmers who need to maximize the productivity of limited water resources.