Rural household economies dependent on rainfed agriculture are increasingly turning to irrigation technology solutions to reduce the effects of weather variability and guard against inconsistent and low crop output. Organisations are increasingly using market-based approaches to disseminate technologies to smallholder farmers; and, although women are among their targeted group, little is known of the extent to which these approaches are reaching and benefiting women.

This report highlights two underutilized but fully implementable technologies that efficiently integrate heat and electricity systems, provide flexibility and enhance energy security. It examines what restricts co‑generation and efficient district heating and cooling systems that can help de-carbonize the energy system.

With the tremendous solar potential in Kenya and the maturity of PV and electric pump technology, the agricultural sector, including smallholder-level farms, is an ideal candidate for rapid growth, improving crop yields, productivity and farmer income while avoiding massive amounts of GHG Emissions. 

Agriculture is the lifeblood of Kenya’s economy. To reduce poverty in the country, Kenya must improve its agricultural production, generate employment and prosperity, and feed a growing population. Irrigation is a key element of agrifood development, but current diesel-powered irrigation pumps are highly polluting and carbon intensive.

Futurepump, has developed a new model to enable smallholder farmers in Kenya to adopt sustainable irrigation solutions with a proprietary solar powered irrigation pump, combined with a finance programme that allows for flexible payments.

Water services in Kenya are often inadequate, unsafe and unsustainable. The arid and semi-arid and  poor  peri-urban  areas  are  mostly  vulnerable  and  are  largely  characterized  by  low  water services  provision  and  severe  water  scarcity,  where  the demand  substantially  surpasses  its availability.

The pre-feasibility study considers identifying the contextual features that allow use or limit the viability  of  selected  technologies  in  areas  (counties)  with  less  developed  infrastructure  within the  wider  view  of  sustainable  water  supply.