Mobile solar irrigation service puts Embu village on the map

At exactly 9am, two farmhands lift and carefully load gleaming solar panels into a green four-wheeled electric cart marked Mkokoteni wa Umeme.[Nanjinia Wamuswa, Standard] At exactly 9am, two farmhands lift and carefully load gleaming solar panels into a green four-wheeled electric cart marked Mkokoteni wa Umeme. After loading, a third farmhand jumps onto it and drives slowly along a narrow path between bean and maize farms. After nearly 2km, the cart glides to a quiet stop at Janet Munguti's farm. The solar panels are offloaded, and the farmhand returns to collect the remaining equipment, including a bundle of long irrigation pipes and a submersible pump. As per their schedule, it was Janet's turn to receive irrigation services on her three-acre farm with rows of maize, beans and a thriving section of miraa (khat). The team quickly gets to work, angling the solar panels towards the sun and carrying the pump and pipes down to the Thiba River. With everything in place, the pump hums to life, drawing and sending water through pipes to the farm. This is a daily routine at Sow Precise, a firm co-owned by Linda Kamau, Pius Wambua and Julia Kinuthia that uses solar-powered irrigation system to provide affordable and sustainable water access to local farmers at Gachuriri village in Mbeere South Sub-county, County. Linda, founder and CEO of Sow Precise, recalls how the idea to invest in irrigation took root. She had worked as an information and technology (IT) technician for an international non-governmental organisation for eight years, until 2016, when her contract was terminated. In Nairobi, without a job, Linda returned home to Mbeere South to venture into farming. "Luckily, my cousin had mentored me in farming, assuring me that opportunities in agriculture are endless and you can be anywhere along the value chain. Farming has no ceiling; what matters is the value you provide to your customers," she recalls. The turning point came in 2022 when Linda partnered with Pius, a statistician; and later, Julia, a banker she met during a business entrepreneurship programme. The team initially embarked on farming using diesel-powered irrigation equipment, but the approach proved expensive and unsustainable. Constantly purchasing diesel was costly, and maintaining irrigation equipment was another challenge. Pius says they had to call mechanics regularly for repairs, and sourcing spare parts was often difficult and time-consuming. The team identified a gap and resolved to capitalise on it by investing in solar-powered irrigation systems. They took advantage of a readily available permanent water source and abundant sunlight to provide affordable irrigation services, ensuring small-scale farmers grow crops year-round and generate consistent income. Armed with an investment plan, the group pitched their idea of providing solar-powered irrigation systems to small-scale farmers and won a $10,000 (Sh1.29 million) grant from Allan and Grill Gray Foundation, which they used to purchase their first set of equipment, including solar panels, pumps, and pipes. Their mobile solar-powered irrigation system can be moved from one farm to another, offering flexible irrigation services. They began by irrigating their own farm, which quickly caught the attention of nearby local farmers. The team started with one farmer, but soon the number grew to 15 and currently serves 50 farmers. Since the introduction of irrigation, farmers have shown greater interest in agriculture and are investing more in their farms, planting mostly sunflower, maize, beans, muguka, and miraa. On average, each farmer cultivates three acres. Sow Precise charges Sh1,500 to irrigate one acre, meaning a farmer pays Sh4,500 for three acres. Pius shares that, from planting to harvest, crops typically require irrigation 10 times. As a result, each farmer pays Sh45,000 per season for full irrigation support. The firm currently works with 50 farmers, who pay for their services. However, during the rainy season, demand for irrigation services falls. They are currently only able to serve farmers within a 3km radius. Pius explains that since they rely on free sunlight and water from the river, their operational costs are almost zero. Beyond irrigation, the group is also empowering farmers by training them in smart agriculture and best agronomical practises. "We emphasise the cultivation of crops well suited to this region's climate and soil," Pius says. The team regularly hires between 15 and 20 casual labourers during peak season to help manage the workload. Currently, the demand for irrigation services continues to outpace their capacity. "We are not able to meet the growing demand from farmers. In fact, there are many more lined up waiting for access to our services," Linda explains. Last year, they pitched their idea at the Agriculture, Youth and Technology (AYuTe) Challenge by Heifer International and emerged as first runners-up, winning Sh750,000. The team says the prize money will be reinvested to double their service capacity, including purchasing more irrigation equipment such as pumps and buying an additional electric cart to ease transportation and reach more farmers efficiently. Agnes Kavatha, who leads Youth and Innovation at Heifer International, explains they support the winners through mentorship and financial awards aimed at enhancing and scaling their technologies. She emphasises their focus is on smallholder farmers, who produce over 80 cent of food consumed globally. "The award of a Sh750,000 prize will be used to upgrade the technology, making water pumps more efficient, reducing irrigation time and covering more acreage daily. This means serving more smallholder farmers, boosting productivity and enhancing national food security," Agnes explains. She adds that improving the efficiency of their solar-powered irrigation unit will also reduce the cost per unit area, enabling farmers to pay less while increasing income. Reflecting on their journey, Linda lauds the power of collaboration, "If I had done this alone, I wouldn't be where we are today. The beauty of co-founding is being able to share responsibilities and let each person focus on their strength." Speaking on fundraising, Linda says the hardest part is developing an idea, building a proof of concept and pitching repeatedly until investors believe and fund it. She explains that, in this entrepreneurship journey, resilience is key. Looking ahead, the team plans to expand their services across the entire agricultural value chain, offering ploughing, weeding and harvesting using solar-powered equipment.

Mobile solar irrigation service puts Embu village on the map

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