Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Network of irrigation kiosks that improve awareness to and affordability of locally fabricated solar water pumps offered as a bundle with quality inputs,training and improved market access to enable small-holder farmers increase yields and incomes.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

We have developed solar powered Irrigation sytems that enable our small-holders to irrigate their fields when rain fails or otherwise do extra crop cycles during the dry season by lifting water from e.g wells and rivers while utilising solar energy.Our irrigation system comprises of a 400 watt solar panel ,a 300 watt DC pump,a 1kwh battery,a charge controller,sprinklers,piping ,and a hand-cart for easier transportation to and from farms.The battery enables up-to 3 hour operation even with insufficient sunshine and can run LED lights plus tv set at night while the sprinkler allows automated irrigation.With a water flow rate of 2400 l/h ,and a head of 30m the sytem is an optimized irrigation solution for one acre farm. Our pumps are fabricated at our mini-workshop from locally sourced parts and made available to farmers through a network of irrigation kiosks where we also train smallholders on climate smart agriculture and stock certified seeds , fertilizer and pest control products.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Although there is a 40% probability of drought in Kenya ,97% of Kenya's 5million smallholder farmers rely on rainfall for crop production .With increased drought,this results into crop failure/loss of harvest estimated at 10-25% for small-holders who are responsible for 80% of food consumed locally.Diesel/petrol powered water pumps are the dorminant modes of irrigation, these are expensive and polutes the environment while contributing to climate change. Solar powered Irrigation sytems are available as climate smart and cost-effective intervention to help small-holders leap frog threats posed by drought (FAO)but affordability and awareness remain as the major constraints to widescale adoption of this proven intervention that would otherwise increase small-holder yields by 2-4 times and incomes by up-to 6 times in the back drop of drought. Otherwise pests and diases as well as declining soil fetility have been cited as other great threats to agricultural productivity for smallholders.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Affordability :-Up to 800,000 of 2,000,000 small-holder farmers with access to water source cannot afford irrigation pumps even if payments are made through PAYGO .Apart from selling our pumps on cash and PAYG ,we offer irrigation pumps on rental for as low as ksh.200 for a day of irrigation a model analogous to that available for petrol pumps. Last-mile efforts:-Solar water pumps are available in stores located in urban centres far from where small-holders reside and operate.We bring solar irrigation closer to small-holders by establishing irrigation kiosks right within the small-holding communities where small-holders can access irrigation systems within their reach. Widescale awareness:-Gaps in knowledge on the benefits of solar irrigation by small-holders.Our irrigation kiosks are managed by Commuity sales reps linked to demofarms where smallholders can learn and see for themselves the performance of solar irrigation systems for improved awareness and education campaign.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our Target customers are 97% of the 5million small-holders who currently depend on rainfall for crop production .Our typical customer and beneficiary would be a rural family unit of between 4 and 5 people,whose primary source boo income is from farming crops. In addition -They are likely to own land,amounting to 1-2 hectares -The head of the household aged between 35 and 55,is likely male but almost one in three households are headed by women in rural areas. -They grow a mixture of staple crops and some cash crops.Maize and beans is commonly grown accross Kenya ,and in our current locality cowpeas , tomatoes , collards and indigenous vegetables are common cash crops. -69% of the households earn less than $2 a day -The family may have some limited access to agricultural technologies such as improved seed varieties and fertilizer. -They are certain to own at least one mobile handset.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-05-24

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

We are a team of diverse knowledge and experience spanning agriculture, engineering and entrepreneurship. Charles Omondi:-Holds a Bsc. degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Nairobi and a Certificate in Solar Photovoltaics as well as Welding and Metal Fabrication.He is the Chief Product Development Officer at Agrisol.His roles include leading the Ideation, Design, Prototyping, Testing, and Refinement the solar irrigation pumps. Vivian Adhiambo:-Holds a Bsc. degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Nairobi.She is the head of Agricultural Extension Services at Agrisol.Her roles include leading the establishment of demofarms and training of trainers(Community Sales Reps) Robert Achoge:-Holds a Bsc. degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Nairobi and is a Certified Public Accountant.He is the head of business development and accounting at Agrisol.His roles include business administration and accounting

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

Http://facebook.com/agrisol

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

According to the United Nations, more than 40% of the world’s population makes a living in the agriculture sector ,many of whom live on less than $2PPP. Socio-economic development is strongly linked to agricultural productivity, and as climate change continues to disrupt rainfall patterns, developing irrigation is becoming a vital tool to combat poverty. With irrigation, smallholder farmers can increase their production by between 2 and 4 times, and their income between 2 and 6 times.At Agrisol we promote the uptake and use of solar irrigation pumps to enable smallholders achieve these targets.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

At Agrisol we reduce the irrigation gap with cost-effective solar irrigation systems that according to Food and Agriculture Organization can boost food production and improve nutrition, contributing to Zero Hunger.

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

5

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

By promoting the uptake and use of solar irrigation pumps,our project is anticipated to have a positive social effect on farming communities especially women and girls.In many traditional African communities ,Kenya included, women and girls are tasked with the role of fetching water; a strenuous undertaking if the water source is far away given its implications on health, safety and hygiene. The adequate water supply provided by water pumps not only improves the personal hygiene of women and girls, but also allows them to allocate more of their time to other activities, such as education or food production.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

A reliable and clean water supply is an essential need but a large number of people currently lack this basic provision. Solar water pumps can supply water to locations which are beyond the reach of power lines. Commonly, such places rely on human or animal power or on diesel engines for their water supply (Omer, 2001). Solar water pumps can replace the current pump systems and result in both socio-economic benefits as well as climate related benefits. The water supplied by the solar water pump can be used to irrigate crops, water livestock or provide potable drinking water. At Agrisol we supply solar water pumps which not only provide water for irrigation but also enable them access clean drinking water from wells and boreholes.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Solar irrigation is both affordable and clean for the environment.The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) conducted a cost-benefit analysis of 11,000 solar pumps in Kenya and found several advantages for the technology when compared to diesel-pumps. At the household level, replacing diesel water pumps avoided US$ 82 in fuel costs and freed 113 hours per year. Across the value chain, and importantly, approximately, 2,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year were abated (or US$ 420,000 per year).At Agrisol we promote the uptake and use of solar irrigation systems to ensure that our smallholders add to this statistic.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

3

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Generally speaking our irrigation pumps have a very positive impact environmental impact ,as it displaces the use of fossil-fuelled engine pumps .

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

3

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

4

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

6

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Although solar irrigation can protect smallholders from the impacts of drought,pests and diseases ,lack of skills ,market access as well as declining soil fertility are other great threats to smallholder productivity. At Agrisol we do not just design and develop solar irrigation systems ,we go further understanding that delivering the pump as a single product cannot do much to smallholders.We do not only deliver solar irrigation pumps designed with smallholders hand in hand but we bundle it together with other products e.g quality inputs (fertilizer and pest control products),training on Good Agricultural Practices ,and improved market access for their harvests that together enables smallholder solve these interconnected challenges for improved yields and incomes without much hassle.All these offers ara available at the kiosks available within their reach that acts as a one-stop shop offering them at pricing models that corelate with the purchasing power undeserved smallholders.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our competitors include Sunculture and Future Pump. Sunculture:-They develop and distribute a range of solar powered irrigation systems including climate smart direct for 1 acre farm and Rainmaker 2 with climate smart battery for 2 acre farm. Their climate smart irrigation system comes without a battery and has an out put of 1200l/h ,a total head of 30m and sells at Ksh.55,000 in cash or a deposit of Ksh.4,000 and monthly installments of Ksh2,500. Rainmaker 2 with climate smart battery has 440wh that has a battery that can run tv set and LED lights , boasts a water out put of 3600l/h ,and sells at Ksh.110,000 in cash or a deposit of Ksh.6000 and monthly installments of Ksh.4,500. Future Pump:-They develop ,manufacture a range of solar powered irrigation systems including SE1 and SF2 . SE1 has a water out put of 1800l/h ,a total head of 15m ,a horizontal discharge of 500m and sell at Ksh.73,000 in cash. SF2 has a water out put of 3600 l/h ,a head of 15m and sells for Ksh.92,000.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

The horticulture industry has been singled out as one that contributes substantially to the impressive growth for enterprises in the agriculture sector. The horticulture industries involve men and women at different levels and in different ways in both urban and rural areas. These enterprises employ 70% women who are either unskilled or semiskilled and are employed on a casual basis or on short seasonal contracts (FPEAK, 2011). Irrigation promotes the cultivation of high value horticultural crops e.g vegetables which require constant water supply not achievable with the current weather patterns.