A New Groundbreaking Technology in Farming

A New Groundbreaking Technology in Farming

Solar-Powered Water Distribution System- Case Story

The agriculture sector in Kenya has been facing high costs of production, where most farmers have incurred high production costs, minimizing their profit margin. This has made agribusiness fraught with uncertainties not only related to climate change impacts but also due to the high cost of farm inputs. In Kieni East, agribusiness farmers have been facing high costs of production, especially due to the high cost of fuel to water their farms, especially those using petrol or diesel pumps. Below is a brief narrative of one of the farmers in Kieni East (Nyeri County) describing the journey of transition from fossil fuels to solar energy in agriculture.

Peter Macharia, a farmer in Kieni East, Nyeri County, has benefited from the solar-powered drip irrigation system from Pioneer CDP, which will be used as a pilot demo garden for the rest of the season. For as long as he can remember, practicing irrigation in the area has never been easy due to the high cost of fuel used to irrigate the farm. Also, due to erratic water availability, farmers face challenges of inadequate water for farming. This has made most farmers practice seasonal farming, which increases dependency on rain-fed crops despite climate change impacts.

“The best thing I like about the system (solar-powered drip irrigation system) is that it utilizes the available scarce water to irrigate my farm while also curbing the purchase of fuel for irrigating the farm. Since I started using the pump, I have refilled the water pan once and the potatoes are now ready for harvesting.”

Peter Macharia at his potato farm in Nyeri County 

From Peter’s discussion, a solar-powered drip irrigation system helps farmers to sparingly utilize the available water to grow different varieties of crops since drip irrigation helps to minimize water wastage. Also, the use of solar energy helps to minimize dependence on fossil fuel, which is costly for most farmers. This helps farmers conduct farming even during dry spells. As a result, farmers can optimally utilize their farms while maximizing their profitability. In addition, Peter noted that he can now time his farming to target the market for his produce.

“Initially, I hardly performed the farm activities without assistance from my family members, and I usually involved my school-going son on weekends and during holidays. For example, I spent a lot of time on the farm watering the crops through overhead, which forced me to seek assistance from my family. However, with this system, I can now water the crops alone while doing other chores, saving time for other activities. Also, on weekends, my son can now do his assignments and have time to play with his friends….”

As stressful as it sounds, Peter notes the disadvantages of conventional farming methods that have made agribusiness a monster in the Kenyan context. He has now acknowledged the benefits of harnessing solar energy in farming, encouraging community members to adopt eco-friendly methods in agriculture, not only to reduce the impacts of climate change but also to cut down production costs.

As PCDP, we are dedicated to encouraging and empowering communities to adopt sustainable and climate-friendly agricultural practices while promoting food security.

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