By Felix Ochieng Okech 

For years, Kevin Kipchirchir from Uasin Gishu County believed his future was in horticulture. He farmed tomatoes and onions on four acres until the numbers stopped making sense. Water shortages, high irrigation costs, and unreliable rains ate into his profits season after season. “The turning point came in 2022,” said Kevin. “My electricity bill hit Sh38,000 a month just to run the pump. I realised the land could earn more money if it produced power instead of crops.”

Instead of planting more crops, Kevin decided to turn part of his land into a solar energy farm as one of the first of its kind in the area. On two acres, he installed a 120 kW solar photovoltaic system made up of Jinko 550W panels and two Huawei 80 kW inverters, supplied and fitted by Davis & Shirtliff. The system now produces an average of 620 kWh every sunny day, enough to power his home, his business, and  facilities used by his neighbours.

The entire installation cost Sh6m, which Kevin had to piece it together from different sources, as a 40 per cent grant from a GIZ clean energy program, Sh3.6m from savings, and a Sh2.4 million low-interest loan from Equity Bank. “It wasn’t easy, but I saw it as an investment with a guaranteed return,” he said.

Now, through a net-metering agreement with Kenya Power, Kevin exports about 11,000 kWh every month, earning credits against his bill. “I sell 70 per cent of the electricity to Kenya Power,” he said. “The remaining power runs my home, a cold room for neighbours’ vegetables, and a grain mill.” In dry months, the energy also powers a water kiosk that serves the village.

READ ALSO:
Solar power farmer opens grid sales with NEMA and EPRA approvals

Solar bubble dryers slash 36 per cent post-harvest losses

Nyamira youth group saves energy cost with solar bakery

The switch from farming to energy production, however, required a series of approvals that Kevin said farmers need to be prepared for. He needed clearance from EPRA for solar generation, NEMA for environmental impact, the county government for land-use changes, and Kenya Power for the net-metering connection. His paperwork took four months before installation could begin.

When the construction finally started, it took 28 days to complete, but not without challenges. “The biggest challenge was vandalism,” said Kevin. “We installed CCTV cameras and electric fencing around the perimeter.” He also had to reinforce the structures supporting the inverters and battery storage.

But the change has transformed his income. Before the switch, onions earned him about Sh70,000 per season, even in good rains. Now, the solar farm earns between Sh180,000 and Sh230,000 a month as regular income with far fewer weather risks. “It’s consistent, unlike farming,” said Kevin.

He also uses his free solar pumping to grow an acre of vegetables for home use and local customers, as well as other crops uses and a grain mill. “Start small, with a 10 kW system,” he said. “Make sure you have someone to buy the power or a productive use for it, and get a supplier who gives warranties – mine gave 25 years on panels and 10 years on inverters.”

Are you a farmer looking to grow the most profitable crop on your farm, with or without irrigation. Use FarmBizAfrica’s HarvestMAX on https://harvestmax.farmbizapps.com and it will tell you in less than a minute what the highest income-earning crops are for your weather, soil type and this season, based on your seasonal weather forecast. Don’t make weather losses ever again, and more than triple your income.