Irrigation in KenyaA Solar Energy Perspective

FAO INVESTA Workshop23RD -24TH November 2017

ENG VINCENT KABUTI

CHIEF OFFICER (PLANNING AND STRATEGY)

NATIONAL IRRIGATION BOARD; KENYA

Irrigation Potential and Opportunities The projected area under irrigation –

1.913million acres by 2030 which is the full

Irrigation potential

Area under irrigation – 484,000 acres (public

12%, Smallholder-59%, Private-30%)

Additional 1.43million acres to be

developed (NWMP-2030)

Source of water Acres

Surface Water (rivers) -Smallholder

255,000

Large dams and Large Scale Irrigation

990,980

Groundwater (boreholes) 128,958

Small dams and water pans 55,000

Total Additional area by 2030 1,429,938

Barriers exist today to investments in energy technologies in irrigation pumps

• Inadequate policy and legal framework to deepen adoption of Solar technology in the irrigation sector

• Skills gaps where solar technicians lack formal skills,

• High cost of solar related products.

• Low penetration and access to solar water pumping solutions

• Lack of knowledge by rural farmers on the solar options available

• Cumbersomeness – no compact solutions especially for farmers who lease land for production

• Capacity of solar pumps to meet irrigation water requirements

• Risk of theft and vandalism of the installation

Findings and recommendations Experience Actors Impact

Tariffs, electricity grid policies, subsidies and permits

To be implemented at high level of both National and County Governments.

They may take long to realise due to diverse interests of the stakeholders and the prevailing government priorities.

These process take very long in Kenya

National Treasury,

Treasury, Ministry of

Water and Irrigation,

Ministry of Energy,

National Assembly

To direct allocation of resources during budgeting and human capital deployment.

• Support the collection,processing, storage andappropriate sharing of dataand statistics on agricultureand the food industry inpartnership withinternational organizations

Can be executed at organization level through dedicated data collection and analysis interventions by relevant

Relevant Ministries. Objective decision making.

• Local ownership, finance

and investment, capacity

building and maintenance of

standards

To be addressed during project design

Ensures sustainability and ease of adoption of the proposed technologies

Requires deep engagement with stakeholders to accommodate their views

Farmers, Project

Managers,

Manufactures and

retailers of solar

products and Ministry

staff (field officers)

Long life of the system

Sustainable operations

Enhanced adoption of technologies

Guaranteed earnings for farmers and investors.

Experience with reference to the findings and recommendations

Examples of successful policies

• Demand pull approach – farmers are guaranteed market for their agricultural produce

• Promote irrigation water supply service approach – water undertaker for reliable irrigation water supply at an agreed service fee

• Dedicated capital grants approach - to acquire the solar pump system for farmers who are committed to set up the conveyance and distribution on farm infrastructure.

• Special Zoning Approach - to identify regions where solar solutions provide the best alternative

Thank You