What is a "treadle pump" primarily used for?

A treadle pump is primarily designed to lift water, making it an essential tool for irrigation purposes. This manual pump operates through a simple mechanism where the user pedals a treadle, causing the pump to draw water from a well or other water source and direct it into irrigation channels or fields. The effectiveness of treadle pumps in small-scale agriculture is particularly significant in regions where access to electricity is limited, allowing farmers to irrigate their crops efficiently and sustainably using human power.

The other options, while important in their respective contexts, do not align with the primary function of a treadle pump. For example, while cooking requires water, the treadle pump does not support cooking directly. Likewise, providing electricity is beyond the capability of a treadle pump, as it is a non-electric manual system. Measuring land productivity is relevant to agricultural practices, but this task is unrelated to the operational purpose of a treadle pump. The focus of the treadle pump remains squarely on irrigation, which is critical for enhancing agricultural productivity in water-scarce areas.