Types of Irrigation Pipes In Kenya

Grekkon Limited supplies and installs various types of irrigation pipes in Kenya. These pipes are of different diameter sizes, lengths, and wall thickness. The larger the pipe diameter, the more volume of water it carries, and the lesser the frictional losses. With a longer pipe, a grower requires less connections between pipes. Wall thickness determines the amount of water pressure a pipe will withstand. The thicker the wall, the greater the water pressure withstood. It is indicated as pressure nominal (PN), with a number. The higher the number the thicker the walls

Types of Irrigation Pipes in Kenya

1. HDPE pipes (High density polyethylene pipes)

They are black in colour and are manufactured as rolls of 100M for these diameter sizes below

16mm, 20mm, 25mm, 32mm, 40mm, 50mm, 63mm, and 90mm.

Larger then 90mm, we supply them as 50M rolls. Grekkon Limited’s HDPE pipes are UV treated for surface application. They have a long lifespan because they are not easily degraded by the sun when exposed.

16mm HDPE pipes

HDPE Pipe prices in Kenya

2. PVC Pipes (Polyvinyl chloride pipes)

PVC pipes are 6M long, come in different diameter and wall thickness sizes. They have no UV treatment and are thus for sub-surface irrigation application.

PVC Pipes by Grekkon Limited

PVC Pipe Prices in Kenya

3. Delivery/ Lay-flat pipes

They are highly flexible irrigation water pipes made from UV treated PVC material.They are supplied as 30M, 50M or 100M long. The diameters are 2″ and 3″, with thicknesses of PN6, PN8 1nd PN10. These pipes are designed for surface use.

In sprinkler irrigation systems, they are connected to a water pump, or a HDPE or PVC pipe main line, then to a water sprinkler. In drip irrigation systems, it will be a main, or sub main line

Delivery/ Lay-flat pipe

4. Drip Irrigation Pipes

These are 0.3mm, 0.4mm, and 1mm thick pipes with a 16mm diameter. They are the lateral that deliver water to the base of the crop. The 0.3mm and 0.4mm are for vegetable crops, while the 1mm are for hedges and orchards. They all have pre-perforated emitters spaced at 15cm, 20cm, or 30cm. The choice of emitter spacing depends on the crop type; 15cm for closely spaced crops like onion and garlic, 20cm for moderately spaced crops like tomato, and cabbage. 30cm is for further spaced crops

5. Rain Hose Pipes

Rain hose irrigation system with nanotechnology punched holes is an affordable irrigation system for overhead irrigation. Rain hose irrigation system uses nano technology to convey water to the plant. It has a series of holes spaced at intervals which sprays water flow by high gravity, or from a water pump is initiated. Our 0.5mm thick, 100M long rain hose pipes are UV treated to last for 10 years in use

Features of a rain hose irrigation system

1. It simulates natural rainfall by delivering water to the base of the crop, with the right droplet sizes
2. The overhead water is discharged in a 3 dimensional manner; vertically, horizontally, and diagonally
3. It is connected directly to a main line
4. It is not easily blocked as the water is delivered under high pressure
5. The operating pressure is from 15M head / 1.5 bar

Advantages of Grekkon rain hose irrigation pipes

• It is easy to install and maintain, and more economical to install than sprinklers
• It has anti-UV treatment, so it is not easily degraded by the sun
• These spray holes are made with nanotechnology to ensure uniform flow of water
• Irrigate both under gravity flow, and high water pump pressure
• Irrigate an area in just 10 minutes
• Highly portable
• A variety of diameters to select from depending on the farm size

Downsides of a rain hose system

1. It is less water efficient compared to drip irrigation
2. Water loss due to evaporation
3. It cannot be used on crops, for intance, crops that are highly susceptible to fugal infections due to foliage wetness
4. It requires high operating pressure
5. Rainhose are more prone to clogging than large sprinklers because the have tiny emitters
6. Under extremely high pressure, the pipes get damaged

Ideal crops for rain hose irrigation system

Crops that can be irrigated using the grekkon rain hose are:

1.  Vegetable such as carrots, brassicas, potatoes
2. Closely spaced bulbs such as onion and garlic
3. Fruit tress; avocado, pixie orange, macadamia, coffee
4. Agro forestry
5. Lawns, gardens, pasture, and football pitches

They are idea for tree or vegetable nursery irrigation

Types of Irrigation Pipes In Kenya

How to select your irrigation pipe

1. Farm ownership method. A leased farm will have the surface HDPE pipes which will be disconnected when the lease period expires. A permanent farm will have sub-surface PVC pipes
2. Irrigation method. Drip and rain hose kits will have HDPE and PVC as the main and sub main line often times. Sprinkler systems are best done with delivery pipes due to sprinkler movement in the farm
3. Farm size. A larger farm will have larger diameter pipes because more water is needed to irrigate
4. Pressure type. Irrigation water flow by gravity is through less thicker pipes such as PN6 or PN8

Solar Water Pump Prices

Solar water pump prices in Kenya by Grekkon Limited are provided based on the pump specs. Our submersible solar water pumps for sale in Kenya are categorised as;

1. Motor size. This is given in kilo watts (kW) or horse power (Hp). The motor operates on direct current (DC) generated by the solar panels, or from a battery. The larger the motor size, the more the power a motor consumes, and provides to the pump
2. Head. This is the pressure rating provided in meters (M) or bar. It determines how far vertically that pump will push water. The higher the pressure rating, the higher the push. Deep wells use higher pressure rated submersible solar pumps than shallow wells
3. Flow rate. It is the volume of water evacuated over a given time unit. This is given as litres per second, or per minute, or as cubic litres per hour. This determines the size of the outlet pipe. A pump that evacuates more water has a larger outlet

Smaller domestic water pumps are portable solar water pumps. It is easy to move them from one shallow well to another. This is not the case for large, permanent, deep well solar water pumps

Solar Water Pump Prices In Kenya

The prices shown above are for solar water pumps for wells less than 100M. Beyond this, we provide specific pumps that match the borehole’s water specs. We install submersible solar water pumps across east Africa for all well sizes. Before an installation is made, a well analysis is conducted to ensure the right solar submersible water pump is provided.

Hydroponic Trays

Grekkon Limited is a top supplier of hydroponic trays to livestock, and food crop growers in east Africa. Our black HDPE hydroponic fodder trays in Kenya are popular with farmers growing hydroponic barley or maize for their livestock. All hydroponic trays in Kenya by Grekkon Limited have no holes, and each tray holds 1kg of barley. The growth of hydroponic fodder in Kenya is driven by diminishing land and water resources. It is produced without soil and little water

Hydroponic fodder tray price is Kes 200 a piece

What Is a Hydroponic System?

A hydroponics system constitutes of a;

1. a stand with a flat top to hold trays
2. a water source
3. hydroponic trays
4. a watering unit

Hydroponic Trays: How To Make Hydroponic Fodder

Common hydroponic crops for livestock in Kenya are; maize, wheat, oat and pulses. Do not grow sorghum or pearl millet because their sprouted leaves are poisonous to livestock.

1. Select good quality seed. Avoid broken or unhealthy seed which will not germinate
2. Place your seeds in a basin, then add warm water. Warm water triggers germination by breaking any dominance present. Remove the seeds that float in the water; they won’t germinate. Remove too any other impurities floating
3. Add 50-100g of salt to reduce fungal production on the sprouted seed
4. Soak the seed for 12 hours, then drain it and run them in clean water
5. Place the seeds in a germination chamber/ room
6. Thoroughly clean the hydroponic trays in clear fresh water
7. Transfer the seedlings onto the hydroponic tray, evenly spreading them
8. Place the trays on a rack
9. Water them with a misting system, a light sprinkler, hose pipe, or watering can to create high humidity for rapid and healthy barley growth
10. In seven days, the fodder is ready for harvest. Your seedlings are 30cm to 35cm tall. If it remains longer in the trays, the nutritive value will depreciate, and fiber will develop

Barley fodder in a hydroponic tray                                               

Hydroponic fodder grows best within a temperature range of 15 to 32 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity range is 80-85%. Allow light for photosynthesis, so growing in a greenhouse or light shade house is fine

3 – 4 litres of water will grow 1kg of hydroponic fodder. This is done through aeroponics (misting the root zone). No pesticides are sprayed

Using misters to humidify a hydroponic unit

Manual watering with a hose pipe

Adjustable Button Drippers For Irrigation

1. What is a button drip emitter?

Adjustable button drippers for irrigation are irrigation accessories attached onto a high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe. They deliver a consistent and uniform amount of water the crop by regulating the flow. Button drippers in Kenya, button drip are common in fruit trees, forestry and hedges irrigation

A macadamia crop under button drip irrigation installed by Grekkon Limited in Iten area, Elgeyo Marakwet county. January 2021

Same macadamia crop in January, 2023

2. How do you install button drippers?

A perforation is made on the HDPE pipe with a drip punch, then the button dripper’s pointed end is pushed into this hole. This punching is done at the point where the tree crop is. But it will be away from the trunk to ensure that water flows to the roots below. The button dripper will be 3-6 inches away from the trunk. This will also prevent fungal infections and other types of diseases.

For younger tree crops, a single button dripper or emitter is sufficient. However, with older larger trees, 2 or more button drippers are provided according to the plant’s water need. In this case, have them equally on the opposite sides of the tree crop to promote even root growth. Two or multiple button drippers ensure that if one is blocked, the other one or the rest continue to water

3. How do you use an adjustable button dripper?

Once in place on the irrigation line, you will adjust your button dripper from 0 discharge to 70 liters per hour flow of water. This is done by turning the dripper to achieve different flow rates as per the crop water needs

4. How long should button drippers run?

Your adjustable button drippers for irrigation will run for 30 minutes to an hour. This is guided by the moisture requirement of the soil, as per the prevailing weather conditions

5. How many button drippers can I run on one line?

This is determined by the diameter size of the irrigation pipe. The larger it is, the more water it ferries over a longer distance. Therefore, the greater the number of button drippers. The other factor is the flow rate of the adjustable button drippers themselves. If adjusted to maximum flow rate (70L per hour), then the line will have less. If the adjustment is to half of that flow rate, then a similar line will carry twice as much

6. How do I increase the pressure in my button drip irrigation system?

They are several ways to raise the irrigation water pressure in your button drip irrigation system

i. Divide the farm into blocks, each of which is irrigated separately. This way, irrigation water is channeled to particular block under high pressure

ii. If it is by gravity flow, then by raising the storage elevation. This will work where raised water tanks are the source of irrigation water

iii. By introducing an external source of pressure, such a s water pump to boost the flow of irrigation water in the system

Adjustable button drippers for irrigation price in Kenya

The cost of a button dripper is Kes 12 a unit

The cost of a button dripper irrigation system per acre depends on the tree crop spacing. In the tabulation below, we provide 3 examples

Water Sprinklers

Water sprinklers for sale in Kenya by Grekkon Limited are categorised by size. The sprinkler size determines the place of use, as a result of the unit amount of water it gives. Water sprinklers in Kenya are either plastic or metallic. This affects the price and longevity, but not the water volume.

1. Garden Sprinklers

These have an inlet diameter of 1″, 3/4″ and 1/2″. Garden sprinklers have low water volume, and are for home gardening. This includes; kitchen gardens, small scale farms, lawns, hedges, and flower beds. Their irrigation diameter is 3M to 14M according to inlet size and make.

Examples

1.1. Butterfly sprinklers

1.2. Mega net sprinklers

1.3. Impact sprinklers

Metallic impact sprinklers

Plastic impact sprinklers

1.4. Pop up sprinklers

1.5. Lawn sprinkler

1.6. Sprinkler jet micro sprinkler

Garden Water Sprinklers Prices in Kenya

A commonly asked question; How much does a sprinkler cost in Kenya?

The table below answers this

2. Rain gun sprinklers

These are larger sprinklers to irrigate small to large acreage of commercial crop. They vary in size and make.

2.1. Flange type rain guns

They are giant rain guns that evacuate large amounts of water, and work under high pressure. They are in large plantations

A flange type rain gun in a large field

2.2. Atom rain gun

2.3. PY type rain gun

2.4.  Plastic rain gun

Rain gun price in Kenya

Irrigation Company In Eldoret

The story of an irrigation company in Eldoret begins five years ago. In 2017, two Kenyan agri-prenuers came together to establish an irrigation systems firm to serve small to medium scale commercial farmers in Kenya. This was by providing tailored professional irrigation systems set up solutions that were within these farmers’ budgets. At the same time, improving the clients’ overall yield, and income from farming. The motivation to focus on this niche was because of the presence of large international irrigation service providers. Their clientele were the large ornamental, cereal and vegetable growers. Smaller growers had to fend for themselves because they were never a priority for these large corporates.

The other objective was to do further by offering expert irrigation, greenhouse, water pumps, and dam lining expertise. This is to small scale to medium scale commercial farmers, who had no professional entity to consult for such. It 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.

The headquarters are  Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. In April 2018, Grekkon Limited opened Eldoret irrigation hub along Kapsabet road in Kaburwa area within Eldoret municipality.

In mid-2021, the company opened a sub-branch in Eldoret town central business district. This is to serve farmers picking none bulky items such as irrigation fittings and accessories. The new sub-branch is located in Sugarland plaza, along Oloo street.

The irrigation company in Eldoret serves growers in; Nandi, Usain-Gishu, Bungoma, Trans-Nzoia, West Pokot, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Baringo counties. These counties have varying climatic conditions and weather patterns. Those in the south are green with predictable rain patterns, hose in the north are arid and semi-arid locations.

Innovation

Grekkon Limited is the first irrigation systems company in eastern Africa to introduce 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 in western Kenya, and the north rift regions.

Team

Grekkon Limited’s resounding success is largely due to its team of field professionals in Nyahururu. They provide engineering, commercial, and technical services. In a first in the market, the company organizes ‘training days’ in various regions of the counties. Here, where growers come to learn of new and existing technologies. This knowledge sharing module has proved effective in addressing basic irrigation challenges that farmers go through. It has created trust in the company’s expertise.

Irrigation Company In Eldoret

The Future

There is a growing number of medium scale farmers living in the cities, but farming in the upcountry.  The need to create a web-based irrigation monitoring system is more pronounced than ever. Grekkon Limited’s IT team is developing a gadget responsive tool. It will enable farmers to irrigate and fertilise (through fertigation) their farms remotely. It also woks s a moisture monitoring tool to alert growers when crop moisture levels fall below normal levels.