Solar Dryers For Coffee In Kenya

Solar dryers for coffee in Kenya by Grekkon Limited improve the drying efficiency of harvested coffee cherry. In Kenya, harvested cherry is largely manually open dried which takes 10 – 14 days depending on the location and the prevailing temperatures. Open coffee drying is done on wooden raised table structures with a wire mesh bed laid out where the coffee cherry is spread thinly. The coffee cherry is dried by direct solar radiation and wind movement

Cost of solar dryers for coffee in Kenya

The overall cost of a solar dryer depends on the size. The average price of a large solar dryer for coffee in Kenya is Kes 1,200/M square

Challenges of open coffee drying

• it is labour intensive. This is needed to turn it over every 45 minutes to 1 hour on the bed to ensure eveness of drying, covering it in the evening or on rainy days with a polythene cover to prevent moisture entry. This increases the cost of coffee erries drying
• quality degradation as a result of moisture entry, dirt, elements of nature, and other contaminants
• it requires lots of space because the beds cannot be designed in a storeyed manner
• none uniformity of drying because it is turned over by hand on the raised drying beds

Open drying of coffee cherries in a coffee factory in western Kenya

The key advantage of open sun drying of coffee is that it is cheap, and has zero CO2 emissions

The coffee is dried from 60% to 10% – 11% moisture level. There are six stages in cofee drying

1) Skin drying. Moisture 55-45%.
2) White Stage drying. Moisture 44-33%.
3) Soft Black stage. Moisture 32-22%.
4) Medium Black Stage. Moisture 21-16%
5) Hard Black Stage. Moisture 15-12%
6) Fully dry coffee and conditioning. 11-10%

Coffee drying is a post-harvest handling process where the coffee quality is preserved instead of improving it. Different temperature limits are allowed for different coffee processing methods. Moisture level are checked to prevent moulding on the drying coffee

Solar dryers for coffee in Kenya by Grekkon Limited provide a low cost, efficient, zero CO2 emissions, and a clean way to dry cofee cherry. The use of solar dryers mitigates against the challenges faced under open sun drying.

How does a solar dryer for coffee work?

1. Air in the dryer in contact with the coffee is heated through solar radiation

2. Moisture in the coffee beans rises and is expelled through a ventilation

The temperature in the coffee solar dryer is on or about double that of the ambient temperature

Benefts of a solar dryer for coffee

• the coffee beans are not tuned over manually to achieve eveness of drying. This cuts out the huge labor cost coffee factories incur during coffee drying. Eveness of drying is well achieved as hot air dries every bean uniformly
• there is no external mositure entry especially from rain. This removes any occurence of moulding or mildew
• coffee dries at half the time or less that it would take under direct sun drying. This reduced drying time saves on operational costs
• there are no external contaminants

The exterior of a solar dryer built in a coffee factory by Grekkon Limited

• the polythene paper cover used has UV block treatment which preserves the quality of the coffee bean. It also has anti-drip attributes, so that dew does not form on it, then drop on the coffee
• space is eficiently used because the drying racks are stacked up over each other, unlike in open sun drying where each coffee cherry must make contact with the sun’s rays to dry
• in areas where coffee theft in factories is rampant, the solar dryer can be locked to prevent entry. This is not possible under open sun drying
• drying goes on even in hazy, cloudy or rainy conditions. Coffee is thus dried anytime of the year, creating drying efficiencies for the coffee factory

Demerits of a dryer for coffee

• it is expensive to isntall
• the polythene cover has to be changed every 3 -4 years when the UV block treatment has worn off
• it is uncomfortable to work in during the day as the internal temperature is high
• where care is not taken, over-drying of coffee may happen, which reduces its quality and its subsequent market price. A moisturemeter should always be used in the drying process to prevent this
• it requires maintainance, such as replacing the UV block treated polythene sheet every 3 years, when the UV block treatment degrades

A coffee solar dryer working principle

A conventional coffee solar dryer can be enhanced with solar module powered extraction, and exhaust fans, which converts it to a hybrid coffee solar dryer. This will further improve on the drying time as moisture is extracted faster. However, due to the large size of the unit, it is an expensive undertaking. It is largely used in smaller fish, herbs, spices,vegetable and fruit solar dryers

How to install solar dryers for coffee

• create raised tables from timber or galvanised steel not more than 1M in width. The length is as much as can be done. These tables can be storeyed upto 3 levels with vertical gaps of 0.75M – 1M between the levels. The horizontal distance from a table to another is 0.5M
• lay a food grade wire mesh over the tables to hold the coffee. A shade net or insect net can be used. The reason a perforated membrane is laid is to allow for free drying air movement on the beans
• construct the galvanised steel framework over these tables to amaximum mid height of 5M
• lay the greenhouse polythene paper over the steel frame
• place an insect net in the air entry and exit points. An insect net prevents entry of insect pests

A 2 level table bed coffee dryer by Grekkon Limited in Kagumoini area, Nyeri county

Grekkon Limited provides training on proper coffee drying in a solar dryer, and also on the maintainance and managemnt of the solar drying unit after installation to coffee societies in Kenya
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Irrigation Company In Nairobi

In 2017 through 2018, Grekkon Limited was an irrigation company in Nairobi servicing small to medium scale holders. The company’s focus was on irrigation and allied services. these are;

• Irrigation. drip, overhead, and sub surface irrigation systems

• Dam liners. for irrigation water harvesting and conservation
• Greenhouses. steaal and wooden types
• Borehole drilling
• Water pumps. solar, electric, petrol and diesel types
• Solar dryers. for post harvest crop loss management
• Agricultural nets. bird nets for bird pests, shade nets for , and insect nets for insect pests
• Trays. seedling trays for seedling propagation, and hydroponic trays for hydroponic fodder production
• Coco peat. a non soil media for use in seedling trays
• Mulch paper. to manage field water loss through evaporation, weed and pest control

While improving the clients’ overall yield, and income from farming. The company focuses on this smallholder, and medium holder niche because of the presence of large irrigation service providers in the country. These companies clientele are the large ornamental, cereal and vegetable growers. Smaller growers had to fend for themselves because they were never a priority for these large corporates. A hallmark of the company is the free 4 month agronomy training programs for all their farmers. Grekkon Limited is the only company that offers this free service to farmers in Kenya

The company organizes ‘training days’ in various regions of the country. Growers come to learn of new and existing technologies.

The other objective was to do further by offering expert irrigation, greenhouse, water pumps, and dam lining expertise to these small scale to medium scale commercial farmers, who had no professional entity to consult for such. This was through physical site visits to carry out assessments, provide advice, and carry out irrigation project reviews afterwards. And so, Grekkon Limited – Irrigation Hub was born. It is headquartered in Athi River, with outlets in other key agricultural zones in Kenya

Two years after establishment, Grekkon won the coveted Most Preferred Irrigation Systems Company of the Year award in 2019. This was at the prestigious Agribusiness Excellence Awards ceremony. The farmers in their votes had finally spoken!

Irrigation Company In Nairobi

1. Irrigation Products

1. Drip kits. For both vegetable and fruit tree/ forestry irrigation. This includes; drip tape, 16mm HDPE pipe, starter connectors, off-takes, drip to drip connectors, button or online drippers, and end caps
2. Rain hose kits. It has; rain hose pipe, off-takes, connectors, and an end cap. Rain hose kits are best utilised where drip irrigation systems cannot be installed such as is pasture, or crop nurseries
3. Sprinkler systems. There are various types;

3.1. Pop up sprinklers. These are sub-surface sprinklers for lawns, golf course, football pitches, and gardens

3.2. Rain gun sprinklers. These are metallic high pressure, high volume sprinklers for use in all crops. They are well utilised in larger acreage because they have a wide area of spray

3.3. Impact sprinklers. They are plastic and range from 1/2″ to 1″. Mostly used to irrigate small vegetable farmes, or pasture

3.4. Meganet sprinklers. These are plastic sprinklers that range from 1/2” to 1”. They are a suitable alternative to impact sprinklers

3.5. Butterfly type sprinklers. They are for lawns and small gardens like the kitchen garden

3.5. Micro sprinklers. They irrigate individual fruit tree plants, just like button drippers. However they cover a wider area, and provide better humidity around the crop’s root zone

In this video below, a smallholder farmer who was an early adapter of Grekkon’s rain hose kits. She speaks about her growing experience

4. Misters and foggers. Used in greenhouses for seedlings watering, and humidity control

Solar water pumps by Grekkon Limited

5. Water pumps;

As an irrigation equipment supplier, every irrigation system is backed by the following types of water pumps to draw water from a source, to supply the irrigation system

i. Solar water pumps. These are either surface or submersible types. Submersible water pumps work under water, while surface water pumps are ground based

ii. Electric water pumps. Like solar water pumps, they’re surface and submersible options

iii. Diesel generator water pumps. They run on diesel powered engines. They are portable or fixed types. The latter are larger in size

iv. Petrol water pumps. They run on petrol powered engines, and are smaller than diesel water pumps

6. Irrigation pipes

6.1. HDPE pipes from 16mm through 280mm diameter. The pipe thickness is from PN6 through PN25

6.2. PV pipes from 20mm through 280mm diameter. The pipe thickness is from PN6 through PN25

6.3. Suction pipes for supply with water pumps

6.4. Delivery pipes as either canvass or PVC material

Irrigation Company In Nairobi

Water pump accessories

Accessories that accompany motor powered pumps are; foot valves, clips, suction pipes, adaptors, splicing kits, control boxes, invertors (for DC to AC converstion) cables,  cable ties, solar panels (for solar pumps), and a solar panel support structure

Accessories that accompany motor powered pumps are; foot valves, clips, suction pipes, and adaptors

Every irrigation system has a main, and/ or sub-main pipes. We advice on the right pipe thickness, size and type based on

• Land size; determines pipe size. Large pipes for large acreage. Our pipe sizes range from 16mm to 180mm in diameter
• Irrigation system adopted; any of the 1 to 3 above
• Land ownership system; leased or owned? HDPE for the former, PVC for the latter

These pipes have specific fittings which are; elbows, tees, valve sockets, ball valves, couplings, adaptors,sockets,saddle clamps, and end caps by type and size

Drip irrigation system under installation by Grekkon Limited using PVC pipes as main and sub-main lines

Irrigation Company In Nairobi

Installation Service

Our irrigation service team conducts systems installations service in east Africa. We offer advisory services to manage the system well for many years

A client’s irrigation system installation by a company technician

Irrigation Company In Nairobi

Key Attributes

Innovation

Grekkon Limited in its innovation introduced the rain hose irrigation system. This new product solved many irrigation challenges for commercial vegetable and corn farmers. The company is the market leader in research and commercialization of natural solar dryers, each unit designed to meet the product or market drying requirements

Today, Grekkon Limited is the largest supplier of natural solar dryers within the east Africa community states

In 2024, Grekkon Limited introduced the first color coded drip tapes in the Kenyan market

Team

Grekkon Limited’s resounding success is largely due to its team of field professionals who provide engineering, commercial, and technical services

Country Wide Presence

As an major irrigation company in Kenya, Grekkon Limited has offices in; Athi River, Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nyeri, and Nyahururu

Small Irrigation Equipment Supplier

Grekkon Limited is a small irrigation equipment supplier in east Africa. Domiciled in Kenya, we serve farmers in; Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Our irrigation materials, tools and equipment vary with the system adopted by a grower. Below is our irrigation equipment list

Double emitter drip tapes pioneered in Kenya by Grekkon Limited

Small Irrigation Equipment Supplier

Types of Irrigation Equipment

1. Drip kits. For both vegetable and fruit tree/ forestry irrigation. This includes; drip tape, 16mm HDPE pipe, starter connectors, off-takes, drip to drip connectors, button or online drippers, and end caps
2. Rain hose kits. It has; rain hose pipe, off-takes, connectors, and an end cap. Rain hose kits are best utilised where drip irrigation systems cannot be installed such as is pasture, or crop nurseries
3. Sprinkler systems. There are various types;

3.1. Pop up sprinklers. These are sub-surface sprinklers for lawns, golf course, football pitches, and gardens

3.2. Rain gun sprinklers. These are metallic high pressure, high volume sprinklers for use in all crops. They are well utilised in larger acreage because they have a wide area of spray

3.3. Impact sprinklers. They are plastic and range from 1/2″ to 1″. Mostly used to irrigate small vegetable farmes, or pasture

3.4. Meganet sprinklers. These are plastic sprinklers that range from 1/2” to 1”. They are a suitable alternative to impact sprinklers

3.5. Butterfly type sprinklers. They are for lawns and small gardens like the kitchen garden

3.5. Micro sprinklers. They irrigate individual fruit tree plants, just like button drippers. However they cover a wider area, and provide better humidity around the crop’s root zone

In this video below, a smallholder farmer who was an early adapter of Grekkon’s rain hose kits. She speaks about her growing experience

4. Misters and foggers. Used in greenhouses for seedlings watering, and humidity control

Solar water pumps by Grekkon Limited

5. Water pumps;

As an irrigation equipment supplier, every irrigation system is backed by the following types of water pumps to draw water from a source, to supply the irrigation system

i. Solar water pumps. These are either surface or submersible types. Submersible water pumps work under water, while surface water pumps are ground based

ii. Electric water pumps. Like solar water pumps, they’re surface and submersible options

iii. Diesel generator water pumps. They run on diesel powered engines. They are portable or fixed types. The latter are larger in size

iv. Petrol water pumps. They run on petrol powered engines, and are smaller than diesel water pumps

Small Irrigation Equipment Supplier

Water pump accessories

Accessories that accompany motor powered pumps are; foot valves, clips, suction pipes, adaptors, splicing kits, control boxes, invertors (for DC to AC converstion) cables,  cable ties, solar panels (for solar pumps), and a solar panel support structure

Accessories that accompany motor powered pumps are; foot valves, clips, suction pipes, and adaptors

Every irrigation system has a main, and/ or sub-main pipes. Our irrigation pipes are HDPE and PVC. We advice on the right pipe thickness, size and type based on

• Land size; determines pipe size. Large pipes for large acreage. Our pipe sizes range from 16mm to 180mm in diameter
• Irrigation system adopted; any of the 1 to 3 above
• Land ownership system; leased or owned? HDPE for the former, PVC for the latter

These pipes have specific fittings which are; elbows, tees, valve sockets, ball valves, couplings, adaptors,sockets,saddle clamps, and  end caps by type and size

Drip irrigation system under installation by Grekkon Limited using PVC pipes as main and sub-main lines

Small Irrigation Equipment Supplier

Installation Service

Our irrigation service team conducts systems installations service in east Africa. We offer advisory services to manage the system well for many years

A client’s irrigation system installation by a company technician

Metallic Greenhouse Price In Kenya

Every metallic greenhouse price in Kenya by Grekkon Limited is determined by the greenhouse type, and size. All metallic greenhouses in Kenya by the company are made from galvanised steel. They are built to last for decades under intense crop production

Metallic Greehouse Price In Kenya

Our metallic greenhouse price in Kenya is provided in the tabulations below by cost and size for galvanized metallic greenhouse tunnel-type structures. Each unit has a drip irrigation kit, side roll-ups, and an entry pouch. We offer a crop support structure, a 1,000L tank, PPE kits, fertilizer, and seeds package at an extra cost. Consideration is made for a grower’s greenhouse budget. These prices include all greenhouse materials in Kenya

Completed units of metallic greenhouses by Grekkon Limited in Heni area, Nyandarua county

How much does a metallic greenhouse cost in Kenya?

A. Small

B. Medium

C. Large
From 800M square. Kes 900 per meter square. We customise our price according to size, and your greenhouse budget

Metallic Greenhouse Price In Kenya

5 Key Factors That Determine Greenhouse Cost

1. unit size. The larger it is, the costlier it becomes for the reason that it take in more material and labour. The choice a greenhouse of size is determined by; land area, water availability, and a grower’s budget
2. design. A tunnel type greenhouse is less costly than a vented type. This is because the latter has a larger roof surface area. Tunnel type greenhouses are for cooler highland locations, while the vented types are for warmer mid to low altitude areas. co-joined units are less costly than single units. For intance, 3 units measuring 30M x 8M built separately are more expensive than contructing them as one co-joined unit measuring 30M x 24M
3. greenhouse construction frame material of the unit. Grekkon Limited as a top greenhouse construction company in Kenya, has an option of a low cost greenhouse constructed from timber. This is referred to as a wooden greenhouse, or the option of the more pricey metallic greenhouse. Both serve the same purposes
4. frame treatment undertaken. Timber for greenhouse construction in Kenya is either treated with light organic solvent preservative (LOSP), or with used motor oil. These treatments protect the timber from termite attack. LOSP treatment is costlier, and preserves the wood longer. Motor oil has to be re-applied every so often and should not be in contact with the crop. Steel is either galvanised with zinc, or an aluminum paint coat is applied on the surface. In this too, the former treatment is costlier, and remains for long
5. greenhouse crop type. our greenhouse construction cost in Kenya for each of these types is determined by the crop type. For instance, an indeterminate crop that requires an internal crop support system will have a more costly greenhouse than a short strawberry crop. The greenhouse installation cost of a plant propagation unit with misters and foggers is higher than a herbs and spices unit without such

Metallic Greenhouse Price In Kenya

These are the materials used in metallic greehouses in Kenya installations

I. UV treated greenhouse polythene with anti drip properties

This is the key material that protects the crop from the elements of weather; sun, wind and rain. It creates the ‘greenhouse effect’, and minimises disease and pest incidences on the crop. It is either clear or yellow in color. Clear greenhouse polythene for fruiting crops, or in ornamentals, bi or multi colors. This is because it allows in more light which these need for photosynthesis, the process that makes food for the plants. Yellow is for vegetative crops, and mono color ornamentals. In mono color ornamentals, it intensifies the color

II. Galvanised steel bars

They provide structural support to the greenhouse, and also to the crop as ‘crop support structures’ for tall indeterminate crops such as; tomato, peppers, and cucumbers

III. UV treated high density insect nets

These nets keep away insect pests. They are for self pollinating (do not require external pollinators such as insects and birds) greenhouse crops

IV. Bird nets

These are only used in greenhouse crops that require insect pollination from bees, butterflies, hornets and many other pollinating insects. They allow in the insects, but keep away bird pests. An example of such a crop is strawberry

V. Profiles

They are screwed onto the galvanised steel bars so that the greenhouse cover is tucked in them

VI. Wiggle wires

Once the greenhouse cover is tucked in the profile, wiggle wires keep it in place so that it is not removed by wind or other physical force. Wiggle wires have a plastic covering to prevent damage to the greenhouse paper the are in direct contact with

Wiggle wires hold in place a clear greenhouse polythene sheet tucked in a profile

VII. Screws

The join the profiles to the galvanised steel structure

VIII. Concrete

This is what supports the metallic greenhouses in Kenya structures on the ground and keeps them upright

Humidification through misters in a seedlings propagation greenhouse

Successful greenhouse farmers in Kenya grow both none food and food crops in our metallic greenhouses. Common greenhouse food crops are; tomato, peppers, strawberries, and cucumber.  Galvanised steel bars, insect netting, screws, and profiles are our greenhouse construction materials. With labor addition, all now constitute your final greenhouse cost

Grekkon Limited’s metallic greenhouse price in Kenya will include; a drip irrigation system for crop production, or a misting/ fogging system for seedlings propagation, and labour. Sprinkler irrigation systems are not installed in greenhouses

A bird’s eye view of a metallic greenhouse for seedlings propagation under construction by Grekkon Limited at the ICIPE institute in Kasarani area, Nairobi county

Greenhouse Sizes In Kenya

Greenhouse sizes in Kenya range from smal units of 120M sq, to large commercial structures spanning dozens of acreage. The most common greenhouse size in Kenya are tabulated below

Greenhouse Sizes In Kenya

A. Small

2,880M sq of greenhouses contructed for a medium scale farmer in Heni area, nyandarua county. The target crop is herbs and spices

B. Medium

C. Large From 800M square. Kes 900 per meter square. We customise our price according to size, and your greenhouse budget

What determines greenhouse sizes in Kenya?

• Land area. The size of the greenhouse will be limited to the amount of land available to develop
• Water availability. The larger the greenhouse, the greater the water use
• Use. A seedlings propagation greenhouse unit in a fram will be smaller than the commercial units where these seedlings establish as crops in the same farm
• Budget. Greenhouse construction is a capital undertaking. The size of the greenhouse unit will be determined by the capital available

Greenhouse Sizes in Kenya

Construction materials

I. UV treated greenhouse polythene with anti drip properties

This is the key material that protects the crop from the elements of weather; sun, wind and rain. It creates the ‘greenhouse effect’, and minimises disease and pest incidences on the crop. It is either clear or yellow in color. Clear greenhouse polythene for fruiting crops, or in ornamentals, bi or multi colors. This is because it allows in more light which these need for photosynthesis, the process that makes food for the plants. Yellow is for vegetative crops, and mono color ornamentals. In mono color ornamentals, it intensifies the color

II. Galvanised steel bars

They provide structural support to the greenhouse, and also to the crop as ‘crop support structures’ for tall indeterminate crops such as; tomato, peppers, and cucumbers

III. UV treated high density insect nets

These nets keep away insect pests. They are for self pollinating (do not require external pollinators such as insects and birds) greenhouse crops

IV. Bird nets

These are only used in greenhouse crops that require insect pollination from bees, butterflies, hornets and many other pollinating insects. They allow in the insects, but keep away bird pests. An example of such a crop is strawberry

V. Profiles

They are screwed onto the galvanised steel bars so that the greenhouse cover is tucked in them

VI. Wiggle wires

Once the greenhouse cover is tucked in the profile, wiggle wires keep it in place so that it is not removed by wind or other physical force. Wiggle wires have a plastic covering to prevent damage to the greenhouse paper the are in direct contact with  

Wiggle wires hold in place a clear greenhouse polythene sheet tucked in a profile

VII. Screws

The join the profiles to the galvanised steel structure

VIII. Concrete

This is what supports the galvanised steel structures on the ground and keeps them upright  

Humidification through misters in a seedlings propagation greenhouse

Successful greenhouse farmers in Kenya grow both none food and food crops in our metallic greenhouses. Common greenhouse food crops are; tomato, peppers, strawberries, and cucumber.  Galvanised steel bars, insect netting, screws, and profiles are our greenhouse construction materials. With labor addition, all now constitute your final greenhouse cost Every Grekkon Limited greenhouse has a drip irrigation system for crop production, or a misting/ fogging system for seedlings propagation. Sprinkler irrigation systems are not installed in greenhouses  

Greenhouse Sizes In Kenya

FAQs

A 30M x 8M tunnel type greenhouse by Grekkon Limited in Rimuruti area, Laikipia county. Notice the front sanitary pouch, and side roll up

3. How profitable is greenhouse farming in Kenya?

Greenhouse farming consists of self-pollinating crops such as greenhouse indeterminate tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, and also insect-pollinated crops like strawberries. These are high-value crops that require intense attention and protection from pestilences such as; hail, drought, pest, disease, storms, and cold. They are moderately profitable. We design none food metallic greenhouses for flowers such as; roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums, and herbs such as geraniums, mint, basil, rosemary, and lemongrass. These crops are highly profitable and are grown by successful greenhouse farmers in Kenya.

4. How do you build a greenhouse?

The interior of the tunnel type greenhouse

 

6.How thick does the plastic need to be for a greenhouse?

It will be 200 to 220 microns. Our greenhouse polythene price in Kenya is Kes 96/MSQ

7. What is the best covering for a greenhouse?

UV-treated greenhouse polythene is the best for greenhouses in tropical locations. Our UV treatment is guaranteed for 3 years

8. Are greenhouse tomatoes better than outdoor tomatoes?

Greenhouse tomatoes have less pesticide applied to them because the crop is protected. Greenhouse tomato farming prevents high pests and diseases outbreak. These tomatoes have a lower shelf life than open field tomatoes because their rind is softer than open field tomato. Complete exposure to the sun is what gives open field tomato tougher rind, assuming the same level of nutrition for both. To increase the shelf life of greenhouse tomato, calcium and boron feeding is necessary

9. How well can a small-scale farmer run a greenhouse?

Grekkon Limited has developed manuals to assist small-scale farmers to achieve high yields in their greenhouses. We also conduct crop assessment visits during the first 4 months of production, free of charge. The reason we make it 4 months is because by this time, the crop has been harvetsed severally and the farmer knows all the basics of production

A low cost vented type wooden greenhouse in Kenya by Grekkon Limited

Greenhouse Sizes In Kenya

How profitable is greenhouse farming in Kenya?

How to get high yields in your greenhouse farming

1. Soil test

Conduct a soil test to determine the right fertiliser regime. A soil test will be done in a soil testing laboratory after soil samples are collected from the site.

2. Nutrition

Before making your beds, trench to 2 feet and add manure mixed with soil and ash then do your bed over this trench. This will feed your indeterminate crop for many months, providing consistent productivity

3. Water usage

Drip irrigation is the method of watering your greenhouses. Tomato farming, strawberry farming, pepper farming, herbs farming, cucumber farming, and for every crop in the greenhouse.

4. Crops to grow

Indeterminate vegetable crops like; tomato, cucumber, strawberries herbs, and peppers. This is because the yield over a prolonged period of time, which is key in returning the greenhouse investment

5. Pests and diseases

Greenhouses reduce the incidence of pests and diseases because the crop is under a protective greenhouse cover

Ripe greenhouse tomato fruit

 

Ripe open field tomato fruits

Greenhouse Sizes In Kenya

Summary

For your greenhouse investment in Kenya, we provide a kit for an additional cost that consists of;

• Seedling trays

• Coco peat

• Fertiliser (planting and topdressing)

• Pesticides; insecticides (long and short PHI), and fungicides (preventive and curative)

• Personal protective equipment

• goggles
• gas mask
• overalls
• gloves
• gumboots)
• A 20-liter knapsack sprayer

This secures your greenhouse budget. Our technical team is at hand to guide growers on the best greenhouse cost and sizes based on; crop type, location, and budget.

Spraying agrochemicals on a young open field tomato crop donning the full PPE kit

Solar Irrigation Kits In Kenya

Grekkon Limited’s solar irrigation kits in Kenya utilise soalr energy as the primary power source to pump water, and distribute it in the farm. Our solar irrigation kits are a clean energy technology that reduces greenhouse emissions. They substitute fossil fuels as an energy source. The company supplies and installs these kits within the east Africa region mainly for smallholder farmers

A Grekkon solar submersible water pump for smallholder farmers

Solar Irrigation Kits In Kenya

Components

1. A water source. This will be a deep or shallow well, a dug out or natural water reservoir, a river, lake or a an artificial water storage unit
2. Mounting structure for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
3. A solar pump. This will be either a submersible solar electric water pump (ideal for wells), or a surface solar water pump. The pump will be fixed or portable depending on the size
4. A solar water pump controller
5. The irrigation system. Most solar powered irrigation systems have the drip irrigation kit as the watering component. This is because it operates under low volume, low pressure. However, some farmers opt also for the rain hose irrigation kit depending on the crop type, available water volume, and the pumping pressure. The rain hose kit works best at high water volume, under high pressure

Components of a solar irrigation kit

Solar Irrigation Kits In Kenya

How they work

• Electricity to run the solar water pump is generated by solar PV panels. They absorb the sun’s energy converting it to direct current (DC) electical energy
• This DC energy flows into an inverter/ controller which converts it to alternating current (AC) electrical energy
• The AC power is channeled to the motor, which runs the pump
• The pump distributes water to the irrigation system

The number of panels used depends on the motor size. The larger it is, the higher the number of PV panels required

A farmer will opt to irrigate by pumping directly to the irrigation system, or to an elevated storage unit, from which the water flows to the irrigation system by gravity

Solar Irrigation Kits In Kenya

Benefits

i. It allows for water pumping in electricity off-grid locations by generating its own solar electric power

ii. It reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases as it does not run on fossil fuels

iii. Farmers produce all your round so long as irrigation water is available

iv. It has near zero maintainance and operating costs, as there’s no drudgery during irrigation

v. There are no opertional costs unlike fossil fuel powered water pumps that require diesel or petrol purchases to run

Solar Irrigation Kit Price In Kenya

1. Drip Irrigation Kit

A Grekkon surface solar water pump for irrigation

2. Rain hose kit

Solar Irrigation Kits In Kenya

FAQs

1. What is a solar power irrigation system?

It is a unit composed of a solar pump, and  an irrigation kit

2. Do solar panels work at night?

No they don’t. However, a farmer can choose to set up a battery to store power during the day, to power the irrigation system at night

3. Do solar panels work in the rain?

They work optimally under clear skies. Their efficiency is dramatically reduced with heavy cloud cover

4. How many solar panels does it take to run a water pump?

It depnds on the size of the motor attached to the solar pump. The greater it is, the higher the number of solar panels required

5. What is the weakness of a solar pump?

They do not work if there is no solar energy provision

6. What solar pump is best for agriculture?

Grekkon limited has the best solar powered water pumps for agriculture because they are designed for small, and medium holder farmers in Africa who constitute about 87% of the farmeing community on the continent

7. How long do solar water pumps last?

For more than 20 years with regular servicing

8. Does a solar water pump need a battery?

No. It will work with the current received directly from the solar panels

9. How deep can a solar pump work?

It depends on the head of the submersible solar pump. Some work in wells as deep as 500M

10. Do you need an inverter with solar panels?

Yes if the pump uses AC current. The inverter will convert the DC to AC. However, a DC pump will not require an inverter

Fossil fuel powered water pumps carbon emissions calculation

The downside of fossil fuel powered water pumps is CO2 emissions, which contribute to global warming, the chief reason for negative climate change being experienced today. To calculate the quantity of CO2 emission from a diesel water pump, multiply the fuel usage in litres by a factor of 2.67. For example; a pump that consumes 100 litres of diesel per month emits 267kgs of CO2 emissions monthly. To calculate the quantity of CO2 emission from a petrol water pump, multiply the fuel usage in litres by a factor of 2.3035. For example; a pump that consumes 100 litres of petrol per month emits 230.35 kgs of CO2 emissions monthly.

Mulching Paper Price In Kenya

Grekkon Limited’s low density polyethylene (LDPE) mulching paper price in Kenya is a factor of plastic mulch paper thickness given in microns. We supply silver on black mulch paper in different thicknesses to high value crop growers in Africa. Our plastic mulch paper is UV treated to prevent rapid solar degradation when in use. Our available thicknesses are; 30 micron, 60 micron and 70 micron. Our mulch paper is in rolls of 1,000M x 1.6M. We cut it longitudinally from this roll according to a grower’s need. The company also installs, and trains first time growers on how to make planting holes on plastic mulch paper

Does Water Go Through Plastic Mulch?

Overhead water sources such as rain or sprinkler irrigation won’t penetrate the plastic to get to the soil

Can You Use Plastic Mulch Without Drip Irrigation?

Yes. Irrigation is done by pouring water in the holes where the plants are. This is a tedious and time consuming process

Advantages of Plastic Mulch

i. Early start for crops. Plants take off with vigor because they have sufficient moisture retained within their root zones. Again the warmth retained in the soil hastens crop growth.

ii. Reduces water wastage. Water loss resulting from evaporation is largely reduced which saves on daily irrigation operational costs.

iii. Less upkeep. Mulch paper stifles weeds which saves weeding operational costs, removes competition for nutrients and light against the crop by weeds.

iv. Better crop quality. Mulched crops have better yield quality as a result of less disease and pest attack, and a more vigorous growth.

Disadvantages

• It is not biodegradable
• It is more expensive to use than organic waste mulch
• Irrigation is limited to drip irrigation

i. What is purpose of mulching paper?

1. To retain soil moisture by preventing moisture loss through evaporation
2. To prevent weed growth

Mulching accelerates crop growth due to mositure retention, and better feeding 9reduced competition for food and light with weeds). This cuts the time the crop remains in the field, which reduces operational costs. Better feeding equals better yield, and higher income

Silver on black mulch paper in a cropping field

The silver coloured part faces up to reflect excess heat, while the black part faces down to retain warmth

The choice of mulch paper thickness depends on;

• Crop growing duration. For short term, single or 2 season crops, a grower will pick the 30 micron paper which will last as long. For long-term crops such as bi-annuals and perennials, the farmer will install the thickest gauge
• Budget. The thicker it is, the costlier the paper

ii.How much mulching paper do I need for 1 acre?

Assume that a nacre measures 63.3M x 63.3M, with 1M wide beds, with paths of 0.5M in between. This gives a total of 42 beds, each running 63M in length. To get the total amount of mulching paper, multiply the number of beds, by the bed length and the width of the mulching paper as below;

42beds x 63.3M x 1.6M = 4,234M sq

iii. What is the cost of mulching per acre?

The cost of your mulching paper cost per acre will be 4,234M sq by the cost per meter square of your chosen thickness. These are tabulated below

Mulching paper price in Kenya

A silver on black mulching paper roll. Smaller mulching paper needs are cut from this as per the grower’s specifications

iv. Which crops need mulching?

This is for high value crops. In Kenya, examples are;

• export herbs and spices
• strawberry
• apples
• greenhouse tomato, cucumber, capsicums, and chilies

v. What are the 3 benefits of mulch?

• ensures soil moisture retention
• cuts down weeding costs
• the crops grow faster and more uniformly

vi. What is the disadvantage of mulching paper?

• it is expensive
• it is an environmental hazard after use because it has to be burned
• it does not allow in rain water, so the crop is fully reliant on irrigation

vii. Which is the best mulching paper?

The thicker it is, the longer it lasts. However, budget considerations are made based on how long the cropping season is, and the need to mulch in the next season

viii. What are the 2 types of mulch?

• organic mulch. This is from crop waste and grass straw
• inorganic mulch. This is made from plastic (LDPE)

Organic mulch from grass straw in a strawberry field

ix. How long does plastic mulch last?

Depending on the thickness, it is as follows

30 microns; 2-3 cropping seasons

60 micron; 4-5 cropping seasons

70 micron; > 6 cropping seasons

x. How do you install mulching paper?

• prepare the land to a fine tilth
• make raised beds, and remove any large soil clods. These will cause air trapping in the paper
•  cover the top and sides of the bed with the mulching paper
• perforate holes on the plastic mulch where the crop will be planted

xi. When should you use mulching paper?

• When growing high value crops such as; strawberry, coloured bell peppers, greenhouse tomato, herbs and spices
• If there is insufficient or expensive irrigation water. Mulching will conserve moisture in the soil, reducing irrigation water costs dramatically
• If there is a high prevalence of stubborn weeds. Mulc paper will suppress their growth

Herbs growing in a greenhouse under plastic mulch paper

xii. What is plastic mulchpaper made of?

Polyethylene

xiii. What is an alternative to mulching paper?

Organic mulch. This is from straw, leaves, shredded bark, shredded newspaper, hay, sawdust or wood chips, cardboard, manure, or other organic matter

xiv. How thick is mulching paper?

Grekkon Limited supplies 30 microns, 60 microns, 70 microns, and 80 microns plastic mulch paper

Our mulching paper price in Kenya is similar across all our branches in Athi River, Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nyeri, and Nyahururu