Access to Solar Water Pumps in Laikipia
Kenya,
ongoing
This 2-year project is implemented by SNV with funding from the Green People’s Energy for Africa Initiative.
The project 'Access to Solar Water Pumps in Laikipia' aims to accelerate access to appropriate, reliable and affordable energy sources for smallholder farmers in Laikipia County by enhancing local distribution and uptake of quality solar-powered water pumps.
This will increase the productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers, contributing to the county’s economic development.
SNV implements this 2-year project with funding from the Green People’s Energy for Africa Initiative. The initiative is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and jointly implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and KfW Development Bank.
Project goals
The project will achieve the following specific objectives:
Increase access and use of SWPs for crop irrigation and animal farming for smallholder farmers
Value chain actors ensure sustainable supply and distribution of SWPs at the local / county level.
Improve productivity and income streams for the smallholder farmers irrigating with SWPs.
Improved marketing and distribution channels for the suppliers of SWPs.
Deepened awareness of the benefits of clean energy products to enhance productivity in agricultural value chains.
Project targets
500 smallholder farmers using SWPs for crop irrigation and animal farming
50% of smallholder farmers reporting improved productivity and revenues
30% annual growth in sales performance for the supported distribution network
50 jobs created along the value chain
The project will promote access to solar-powered water pumps for crop irrigation and animal farming for smallholder farmers. These will be appropriate and affordable SWPs already locally available in the Kenyan market. Quality products and suppliers providing after-sales support, including product warranties, will be given priority.
The project participants approved for support under the project will be based on demonstrated distribution experience, market potential, capacity to implement or deliver results, and commercially viable business models, including cash sales and/or flexible payment models.
Approach
Through a market-based approach, the project will focus on interventions on both the supply and demand sides to address critical barriers constraining the distribution and adoption of SWPs. On the supply side, the project will focus on capacity development for SWP companies and their rural distributors to ensure adequate availability and distribution in rural and remote areas. On the demand side, the project will mainly focus on demand creation to enhance uptake of SWP technologies and enhance the capacity of the smallholder farmers to facilitate appropriate selection, use and maintenance of the SWPs. This will involve a mix of technical assistance and financial support to enable market development activities.
Image: © Sunculture
