The Ngobit River Solar Irrigation Expansion

Project Summary

Espring Farm is expanding its “Farming-as-a-Service” model. We provide land with water and other support utilities to independent farmers who cater for the labor and inputs. To meet the high demand for rental plots, we are scaling our irrigation capacity to support year-round high-value agriculture. Following a successful 4.8kW solar pilot project, we are now seeking community partners to fund a 30kW pumping system capabale of producing 200,000 to 500,000 liters of water per day powered by solar & wind. This infrastructure will allow us to lease out additional farming plots, with the resulting rental income used to repay our contributors.

Project Lead: Douglas Kanyi

Location: Ngobit/Laikipia Region

Target: 200,000+ Liters/Day Irrigation Capacity

The Opportunity

We are inviting crowd-investors to fund the hardware in exchange for a fixed 50% return on capital.
Here is a breakdown of what we are looking for from you.

• Contribution: Min KSh 5,000 | Max: 6,000,000.
• Target Return: 50% on principal.
• Repayment Window: 18 months.
• Security: Repayments are backed by existing rental contracts and the physical assets that we will buy (solar panels, pipes and pump).

Proven Success with A Demo Project

We have already done a similar smaller project to test the feasibility and address all technical risks. Our feasibility study helped establish various things including how well a solar water pump can deliver water over a distance like 1-2km and overcome a 120 meter elevation from source to destination. We also wanted to test how well solar power can be transmitted over the same 1km distance to ensure that the solar panels are installed in the safety of the farm compound rather than the forested area where they might be vulnerable to theft and vandalism. Piping was also a concern since we had to establish whether plastic pipes would survive the high pressures that develops as the pump pushes water from the river to the farm.

Our feasibility study involved the setup of a self-funded 4.8kw pumping system that delivers 4000 liters of water an hour to the farm. The solar panels are installed halfway between the river and the farm compound using a 500 meter wire ( 4mm solar cable) and works very efficiently, usually delivering water steadily from 8am to 5pm. We used a mix of high pressure and low pressure pipe gauges for functionality an costs effectiveness – PN 12.5 for the first 100 meters from the river and PN 10 for the next 300 meters, and finally PN6 for the remaining 700 meters.

This system works well delivering water even when clouds litter the sky thus making it a perfect irrigation companion. We intend to follow all the lessons learned during this demo project setup for the main project to replicate the success. By including a wind turbine, the system can work more hours once the sun is gone.

In short our demo project

• Pumps water over a 1km distance.
• Conquers a 120-meter vertical elevation gain.
• Operates efficiently from 8am to 5pm daily, even in cloudy weather.
• Proved that 4mm solar cabling can transmit solar power 500m+ without significant loss.

Main Project Technical Specifications

The main project will replicate the pilot’s success on a much larger scale and mitigate all the challenges we established from the onset:

• Water Source: Ngobit River (1km from compound).
• Pump: Submersible, 30m3/hr  at 120 meter height.
• Power: 30kW Solar Array – e.g. 66  panels each producing 440Watts
• Infrastructure: 1,200 meters of 10mm  3-core armoured cable  & 1,500m high-pressure HDPE piping (PN16, PN10, and PN8).
• System Security: Solar panels will be housed within the secure farm compound to prevent theft, with power transmitted to the river via underground armored cable.

Financial Structure

We are raising capital for equipment purchases and installation. We are ready to work with several people each contributing what they are capable/willing into this project kitty. Your contribution is an investment in the farm’s utility infrastructure and will get top repayment priority from the revenues generated by the farm.

Typical returns on investment

Repayment Source: The farm generates immediate revenue through land rental fees. We already have existing “tenant farmers.” We also keep adding more farmers as we expand our Farm’s irrigation capabilities. These cash flows are dedicated to contributor repayments until all obligations are met. Learn more about Espring Farm

Agreement

You will sign a binding agreement with the project lead to secure your interests as you participate in this project.

Timeline to Impact

• Fundraising:  30 – 150 days

• Procurement: 14 Days post-funding.

• Installation: 14 Days after purchase (employs local skilled labor for trenches and assembly).

• First Repayment: 6 months after installation.

Beyond the Money

By participating, you aren’t just earning a return; you are:

1. Creating Jobs: Apart from local labor engaged during for installation, this project creates a long-term job market for farmhands and farm product sellers.

2. Food Security: Projects like this that harness natural resources like sunlight and river overflows help enhance food security.

3. Green Energy: Utilizing 100% renewable solar and wind power.

You are most welcome to visit Espring Farm to explore our solar demo project and the farm in general to see why tenant farmers love doing their agribusiness ventures with us.