INUA MAISHA NA DRIP Drip irrigation is the most effective way to achieve uniform crop by using little water. In a drive to get Kenyan farmers closer to attain their full agricultural potential, Amiran Kenya and Netafim, the Israeli based multinational that invented drip irrigation have partnered through the INUA MAISHA NA DRIP Campaign with the core agenda of addressing farmers’ needs across the entire value chain, which includes; finance, technology, training and agro-support. With Kenya’s economy largely dependent on the agricultural sector, there’s a common slogan linked to this that ‘agriculture is the backbone of the Kenyan economy’. Beside the sustenance of the economic role, the agriculture sector plays another major role, feeding the country’s population. Kenyan farmers are always trying to increase their yield and income while still trying to overcome the challenges such as season changes that make it unpredictable to know how to time their farm calendars, in addition to other production costs that come along the way. Speaking during the launch of the campaign, the company’s head of integrated projects, Mr. Nitzan Bauer, said that farmers need affordable irrigation solutions to increase their production and profitability. “We have opted to bring on board several financial institutions because the biggest problem most farmers have is accessing finance,” he said. “If they can get money to buy irrigation systems, they will boost their productivity.” Amiran has partnered with Chase, Family, Rafiki, CBA and K-rep banks that will provide various finance packages for clients who want the drip kits. Loan products can also be accessed through Rafiki Deposit Taking Microfinance and the Youth Enterprise Development Fund. “We brought the enterprise fund on board because we know that many youth aged between 18 and 35 do not have access to finance even when they want to venture into agribusiness,” he explained. “We have seen an even larger uptake of the kits through the fund.” Through the ‘Inua Maisha na Drip (Improve your life with drip)’, scheme, farmers can buy kits for anything from a sixteenth of an acre to a full acre. The kits, priced from Sh15, 000 rising, contain a gravity-fed drip irrigation system, accessories such as filters and valves, a water tank, top quality seeds, fertilizers, agro-chemicals, a sprayer and an agro-support package. Each of the financial institutions offers credit packages suited for their clients with different repayment plans. Amiran says they install the equipment about ten days after loans are approved. In light of this, farmers have been challenged on the need to practice modern farming techniques such as drip irrigation that allows them to get the most out of agriculture by enabling farmers to increase their crop production and to grow in and out of season. “Now more than ever, farmers need to understand that for them to increase their performance and profitability, they require a reliable and affordable irrigation solution. Amiran Drip Irrigation systems will enable them not only to control their growing schedules but to also produce higher and quality yields that attract high market prices.” said Yaron Katina from Netafim. Grounded on Amiran’s three pillars to a sustainable agribusiness project; knowledge, know-how and high quality inputs, the Amiran Drip Kit is a comprehensive set of tools containing a gravity fed drip irrigation system, accessories such as filters and valves, a water tank, top quality seeds, fertilizers, agro-chemicals, a sprayer and an agro-support package. Amiran and Netafim experts emphasize that farmers need to understand that drip irrigation systems are not just pipes with holes. There is a modern holistic approach behind top quality drip irrigation systems that provides farmers with a long lasting innovation which allows for a uniform and high yielding crop through the drop by drop process where each crop gets the right and equal amount of water and fertilizer. The INUA Maisha na Drip’s top agenda is to provide farmers with a complete package that will equip them to grow quality produce to feed their families and the country while also attracting international markets in move to further open up Kenyans agricultural export industry.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 13:14:22 +0000
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