Kickstart International: Small-scale irrigation pumps

KickStart innovates low-cost human powered -and now solar powered- irrigation pumps for small-scale farmers that follows 4 principles: A farmer-driven design criteria: -Affordable to buy & use–with cost recovery in 1 season -Easy to operate – hydrodynamic & mechanical efficiency -Strong & durable – for harsh & remote areas -Portable & storable –to be carried to the field -Plug-and-Play –n o training or tools required High quality and low cost: -Mass produced –to achieve high-quality & low-cost -Quality guaranteed –protects farmers & promotes their trust Engineered for environmental sustainability: -Water efficient – pressurized hosepipe & sprinkler irrigation -No fuel required – solar & human-powered designs Providing range of appropriate technologies: -Human & Solar Powered Pumps–for small-scale irrigation -Water drilling, catchment & storage–to access water sources -Water distribution technologies–to get water to fields efficiently KickStart developed a line of pumps to cover different needs within the diverse population of SSA small-holder farmers: -The Starter Pump (priced at $50 and capable of irrigating up to 0.8 acre/day) -The Hip Pump (priced at $100 and capable of irrigating up to 1.2 acres/day) -The Max Pump (treadle-powered; priced at $170 and capable of irrigating up to 2 acres/day) -The Solar Pump (solar powered; priced at $410 and capable of irrigating up to 1 acre/day) These irrigation innovations in affordability critically expands our pool of target beneficiaries, offering incredible potential to scale our impacts through unprecedented inclusivity of financially marginalized households. To massively scale the adoption of its technologies, KickStart distributes pumps through a leveraged partnerships sales model working with a network of trusted distributors (which import and sell KickStart products, spares, and accessories) as well as financing institutions (‘irrigation loans’, pay-as-you-go). Governments and local and international NGOS have been critical to increase local access and uptake, empowering women and girls and attracting youth to farming as well as for the development of agro-preneurship programs.

SEE LESS

Problem

80% of the poor in sub Saharan Africa (SSA) are small-scale, rain-fed farmers, scraping out an existence on small plots of land, at the mercy of the rain. 1 of 4 are struggling with chronic hunger, which threatens to grow worse as the population grows (Sub-Sahara Africa’s population will double by 2050). Theses farmers plant when it rains and all harvest at the same time. They flood the markets and ~40% of their harvest spoils before it is eaten or sold. In the off-seasons prices are high and hunger haunts the land, and when rains fail due to climate change they lose everything. Moving them from rain-fed farming to irrigated farming, they can grow and sell crops throughout the year, greatly increase their incomes, save their rain-fed crops when rains fail and take a major step out of poverty. With only ~4% of the farmland in SSA that is irrigated compared to 40% across Asia and 48% in India (IFPRI-Irrigating Africa 2010)—the potential for change is huge.

Solution

KickStart believe that irrigated farming through affordable small-scale irrigation systems is the most efficient way to quickly enable millions of people in SSA to make money and climb out of poverty. KickStart designs, mass-produces and promotes unique, high-quality, low-cost, MoneyMaker-branded irrigation pumps that enable farmers to move from ‘rain-fed subsistence farming’ to ‘commercial irrigated agriculture’. KickStart sells the pumps through a local private sector supply chain, and uses its gross margins and donor funds to reach and educate farmers, and educate partners and policy makers, about the impacts of irrigation. Farming Families that use our Pumps boost net farm income by 400% on average, increase investment in livestock, improved housing, and education, mitigate the effects of climate change