SunCulture, based in Nairobi, Kenya, sells the AgroSolar Irrigation Kit (ASIK), an entirely solar-powered drip irrigation system that makes it easier and cheaper for farmers to grow a wide variety of crops. The kit combines solar water pumping technology with high-efficiency drip irrigation and includes everything a farmer needs to grow more while spending less, in a sustainable and energy-efficient way. REEEP, as a project partner, will provide information and knowledge management support.
As a result of switching to solar irrigation, smallholder farmers will realize significant benefits. These benefits include increased production of higher value produce, cost savings, and more efficient use of time. Time saved on farming and water gathering can be directed to other more productive activities. In addition, SunCulture’s system has environmental benefits–in the next year, current SunCulture farmers will save 1.9 billion liters of water and generate over 64,000 kilowatt hours of power annually–all this while growing over 8.4 million kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Challenge
96% of Africa relies on rain instead of irrigation for agriculture, resulting in 50%+ lower yields than the rest of the world. This translates into African farmers earning only $600-$1,000 per year and Africa projecting to spend $110 billion in food imports in 2025. There is abundant climate-resilient groundwater within 30 meters below ground across Africa. However, due to a lack of affordable and sustainable solutions for smallholder farmers (60% of the population) only 4% of cultivated lands is irrigated, vs. 37% for Asia. Total area under irrigation from groundwater could be expanded 20x across Africa and 120x in 13 African countries (13.5mn hectares).
As a result, the agricultural production in Africa is almost entirely dependent on rain or hand carried water, typically collected by women and girls. Rainfed agriculture results in >50% lower yields, only low value crops being grown, and a high proportion of unused arable land. In addition, with climate change, rainfalls have declined more than 100mm annually since the mid-1970s, making rainfed agriculture even less productive. This translate into African farmers earning $600-$1,000 per year and spending 17 hours per week physically moving water to meet their basic domestic needs.
Solution
RainMaker2, the next generation of SunCulture’s popular solar-powered water pump, offers more than double the amount of water than its predecessor and a longer lifetime of ten years. RainMaker2 enables farmers to increase their land under irrigation and can lift water from rivers, wells, or boreholes up to 210 feet deep. Paired with SunCulture’s ClimateSmart™ Solar Energy System, RainMaker2 operates reliably during extended cloudy periods, enables pumping during the afternoon and evening for increased irrigation effectiveness, and drives high-pressure sprinkler irrigation systems directly without the need to install expensive water tanks.
SunCulture also provides value added services and financing for RainMaker2, making it the only company in Africa offering this one-stop-shop solution. SunCulture’s customers increase their incomes by 5-10x.
The WE4F supported project “SunCulture Middle Management Learning and Development” is a Technical Assistance project with an aim to develop the self and commercial leadership capacity of middle managers, who will need to take up increasingly strategic positions as SunCulture gears up for a Series B raise in 2022. This project will ensure SunCulture is supporting a new wave of successful middle managers, especially women managers. This is a learning and development engagement focused on leadership skills through an inclusion and diversity lens. SunCulture is committed to supporting all middle managers to ensure that their managers are leading well, and that gender equity is embedded. The improved performance of their middle management team will also have a positive impact on the overall operations of the business (e.g. sales, R&D, finance, supply chain).
Videos
Recent News
List of top 15 solar energy startups, helping India transition to sustainable energy sources (The Indian Wire)
World Bank challenge lists promising agri-tech innovations in Kenya (Standard Group)
SunCulture Launches Rainmaker2 With ClimateSmart™ (Powering Agriculture)
Futurepump and SunCulture Chosen As Companies to Inspire Africa 2019 (Powering Agriculture)
5 Digital Innovations Making A Difference Outside The City (One Acre Fund)
SunCulture secures backing from EDF Group (ImpactAlpha)
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