Machinery

: 26 July 2018; Hits: 5955

Water and energy solutions firm launches irrigation systems in 24 counties

drip irrigation system

Davis & Shirtliff Group, a supplier of water related equipment in the East African region has launched a new segment, irrigation, for all its branches countrywide that will see more farmers in the country readily access both commercial and agricultural irrigation equipment.

The products in the new segment include pop ups sprinklers, valves, controllers, hose reel sprinklers, centre pivots and drip line systems for various agricultural and commercial applications such as lawn and golf sprinklers in 24 counties.

The launch will not only see farmers both small scale and large scale in all counties accessing irrigation products more readily but also products that are designed to optimize the use of water and ultimately help in water conservation.

A recent study by the 2030 Water Resources Group identified the main reasons hindering farmers from implementing irrigation schemes in their lands. Among them was the fact that farmers are unaware of the benefits of irrigation, believing irrigation technology is not yet common which sees them prefer common practice for generations.

Another key challenge given was the difficulty in reaching remote populations, which Davis & Shirtliff hopes to capitalize on using its extensive branch network. The firm intends to leverage on its extensive branch network of over 35 branches in the 24 counties in Kenya which will offer farmers timely and cost effective support.

“We do not have an effective market reach in the country in as far as irrigation products are concerned. Farmers cannot readily access irrigation products that will also help them optimize the use of water in their lands and this is part of the reason why we had to get into irrigation. We want to leverage on our extensive branch network throughout the country to make sure that farmers even in far flung counties can access these products. Said Davis & Shirtliff CEO David Gatende while speaking at the launch held at karura forest.

Mr Gatende added that sensitization, knowledge and coverage in the irrigation sector has been limited and the firm hopes to devolve knowledge and products to all levels.

Davis & Shirtliff has a strong network that we believe will reach every corner of the country and we in turn hope to achieve more irrigated area and better livelihoods in our communities, he said.

The 24 counties that will benefit from this new product line include, Nairobi, Kajiado, Kiambu, Machakos, Kitui, Embu, Meru, Nyeri, Laikipia, Garissa, Nakuru, Taita-Taveta, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Narok, Kakamega, Trans-Nzoia, Bungoma, Kisumu, Kisii, Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale and Lamu.

According to data from the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), irrigated agriculture represents 20 percent of the total cultivated land, but contributes 40 percent of the total food produced worldwide. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the lowest portion of the cultivated area that is irrigated, just over 3 percent against almost 21 percent at global level.

FAO also noted the greatest potential for expanding irrigated agriculture, considering both land and water resources, is in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, where only one fifth of the irrigation potential has been equipped, or 7.7 million hectares out of a potential of 38 million hectares, and in the Southern America region, where only one fourth of the potential has been equipped, or 16 million hectares out of a potential of 60 million hectares.

Globally more than one third of the food is lost between field and fork, and thus also a large amount of water, needed to produce the food. While in poor countries most losses occur due to post-harvest losses, in rich countries losses are mainly due to throwing away the food that is not consumed.

In this year’s National Budget, the Treasury has allocated Sh20.25 billion to enhance food and nutrition security to all Kenyans by 2022, and Sh2.4 billion to support value addition and raise the manufacturing sector’s share to gross domestic product to 15 per cent by 2022. The Cabinet Secretary in charge of the National Treasury Henry Rotich noted that the Big Four Agenda will largely be achieved through partnership with the private sector.

The new product line is Davis & Shirtliff’s seventh segment and has been launched to complement its other business activities that include water pumps, borehole services and swimming pools among others.

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: 18 July 2018; Hits: 11051

Jomo Kenyatta University launches automated irrigation system that saves water and increases yields

The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology has launched an automated irrigation system that saves more than 25 per cent of water used by using soil sensors to ensure farmers irrigate without fear of using more water than required by crops as this has often led to increase in crop diseases such as root decay due to over watering.

According to a research by the University of Missouri, drip irrigation boosts yields in crops such as maize and soybean production by more than 50 per cent.

The irrigation system is designed to water crops depending on the moisture content of the soil. The technology works when the content of soil in the water falls to a level that is below what is required for the crop’s survival and healthy growth.

The watering frequency can be adjusted to suit different crops being managed in the farm as per the requirements. This system checks water wastage because Irrigation manager system controls the required amount of water required by the crops.

Drip kit saves over 70 per cent water in kitchen garden irrigation

Coast farmers cut irrigation costs with water storing crystals

irrigation manager

JKUAT's automated irrigation manager

“The saved water can be used in another round or on similar irrigation field,” said Wycliffe Obwoge, an agronomist.

At the same time the method allows for application of liquid fertilizers and other farm chemicals like pesticides in a more precise and economic way, he says.

This reduces wastage of pesticides, water, fertilizer and other resources in a greenhouse or open field.

The system is labor cost effective and saves on energy since it controls the water pump only when water content of the crop goes down with the help of sensors which manage water content.

According to the ministry of agriculture, the country’s irrigation-based farming is still limited. Of the total land area under agriculture, 2.9m ha, irrigation accounts for only four per cent but contributes to three per cent of the GDP and provides 18 per cent of the value of all agricultural produce, demonstrating it’s potential in increasing agricultural production and productivity.

Irrigated agriculture is carried out mainly in irrigation schemes and in large scale irrigation of crops such as rice and coffee. Individual farmers have developed their own systems of irrigation especially for export crops such as coffee and horticulture.

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: 17 July 2018; Hits: 8890

Bungoma County to build a Sh140m milk processing plant to improve area dairy farming

A milk processing plant. Photo courtesy.

The county government of Bungoma has aside Sh140m in its budget to build a milk processing plant in the region, a plan which if fully implemented will see more than 30,000 small-scale farmers in Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties benefit from the multi-million-shilling agriculture project.

The project which aims at boosting milk production in the county will be set up in Webuye East Sub-County and would receive milk from dairy farmers from across the county.

“The county has set up a plan to launch a Sh140 million milk processing plant as part of improving income for dairy farmers in our county. We have identified a site in Webuye East where we plan to set it up,” said Mathews Makanda, County Executive for Agriculture.

He said the county government had already started to draft a policy that will help in advising how best to get proceeds from milk and the plant will be beneficial to farmers as it would process milk and come up with various dairy products that would be sold locally and others exported to other regions.

On the same the county has also written proposals to Danish Aid Agency Danida, and World Bank to help them set up the processing plant.

Makanda said that the dairy farmers would get training on how best to raise the production of milk from their dairy cows and the best practices to handle milk.

“We have approached several international organisations that would help us in setting and installing the milk processing plant and they will also be involved in training of farmers.”

Just like their neighbouring county, Busia, the county would set up milk coolers in wards that would be used as collection points before transportation to the processing plant.

“The county had received three coolers and would be installed at Maeni, Mihuu and Kaptama wards. The wards would have the farmer groups form and register saccos that will manage the coolers, linked to the main plant and perform deliveries.”

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Thursday, 02 July 2020 we are still waiting to see.