Found an excellent article on "intermediate technology", or simple tools and equipment that are adapted towards farming and water usage. Most involve physical labor, but are very cheap and very efficient for a family trying to improve their income.
International Development Enterprises (IDE) , an organization begun by a man named Paul Polak, has been working in Asia and Africa for the past 30 years to create these types of technologies and change the market in developing countries so that the final price of this equipment is affordable for rural families. This can eliminate even the need for microloans.
Give it a read!
http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/improving-water-access-in-india-one-drip-at-a-time/
