Our Portfolio

Background

Kenya must improve agricultural production to reduce poverty, generate employment and prosperity, and feed a growing population. Currently only 4% of irrigable land is under irrigation. Irrigation is a key element of agrifood development, but current diesel-powered irrigation pumps are highly polluting and carbon intensive. Investment in alternative technologies is lacking due to gaps in finance, understanding and know-how among primary segments.

Purpose

Irrigation in general – and Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (or SPIS) in particular – can provide substantial benefits to local prosperity in regions that adopt them. The most direct benefit is the increased revenue and income that come with the greater yields of irrigated cropland vis-à-vis rain-fed land. Stable water supplies allow additional growing seasons per year, massively increasing output. Drip irrigation (a central, although not unique, element of SPIS) can save around 80% of water compared to current practices, and improves crop quality thanks to more stable supply, often improving real yields by over 300%. In addition, SPIS offer significant cost savings over time on labour, fuel and fertilizer, a total value to smallholder farmers estimated at around $14,000 per acre annually.

Economically, the benefits of increased use of SPIS translates into local opportunities beyond the agricultural boundaries, as small businesses arise to meet demand in manufacture, assembly, repair and sales of SPIS.