Drip Irrigation System
Every drip irrigation system in Kenya by Grekkon Limited supported by a HDPE or PVC line. We are the largest drip irrigation kits suppliers in Kenya, reaching the highest number of farmers. At the very bottom we do simple drip irrigation systems, also known as kitchen garden drips
It advances to 1 acre drip irrigation kits, 5 acre drip irrigation systems to hundreds of acres. Our drip pipes for sale in Kenya are the double emitter drip irrigation pipes
Drip Irrigation Kits Prices In Kenya Are A Factor Of
- Crop type
- Bed spacing
- Terrain
Drip Irrigation System Cost Per Acre In Kenya
| Crop Type | Lines Per Bed | Acreage | Cost in Kes |
| Watermelon, sweet melon, butter nut | 1 | 0.125 | 15,000 |
| 0.25 | 25,000 | ||
| 0.50 | 45,000 | ||
| 1 | 85,000 | ||
| Tomato, cabbage, chillies, capsicum | 2 | 0 | 25,000 |
| 0.25 | 40,000 | ||
| 0.50 | 75,000 | ||
| 1 | 140,000 | ||
| Onion, garlic, herbs, spices, strawberry, green beans | 0 | 27,500 | |
| 3 | 0.25 | 45,000 | |
| 0.50 | 85,000 | ||
| 1 | 160,000 |
Drip Kit Components
- The main line. This is a PVC or a HDPE pipe. The choice of pipe thickness is according to the pressure of the water in it. A farmer with gravity flow has a thinner pipe than one with a high pressure water pump
- Water filter. To remove impurities that will otherwise block the drip pipe emitters
- Gate vales. They control the water movement from one point to another by opening or closing
- Main line fittings; tees, elbows, adaptors, connectors, saddle clamps, reducers, and end caps. They are either PVC or HDPE as per the pipe. Their size depends on the pipe size
- The sub main line. This is connected to the main line, and is the origin of drip lines
- Sub-main line fittings; tees, elbows, adaptors, connectors, saddle clamps, reducers, and end caps. They are either PVC or HDPE as per the pipe. Their size depends on the pipe size
- Drip pipes. These pre-perforated pipes have emitters that supply water to the crop directly
- Drip fittings; starter connectors, off take connectors, drip to drip connectors, rubbers, mini-valves, and end caps
Drip Irrigation Lines and Pipes
In this drip irrigation lines and pipes piece, we will answer commonly asked questions in relation to drip irrigation
1.What is drip irrigation tape?
This is a flat thin walled LLDPE material tube with sequential emitters for irrigation
2. How long do you water with drip tape?
This depends on the crop water need at the time of irrigation. It ranges from 25 minutes to 1.5 hours. It is recommended to irrigate daily over a short duration with the same amount of water to keep the crop happy
3. Can you re-use drip tape?
Yeas you will over several growing seasons. The thicker the wall size, the longer the re-use period
4. What is the maximum length of a drip irrigation line?
1,000M
5. How much water does drip tape put out?
This depends on the emitter specifications. We supply 1.5L/ hour, 2L/hour, and 3L/hour emitters in our drip tapes
6. How much do drip lines cost?
Grekkon Limited’s double emitter drip irrigation lines and pipes for sale in Kenya tapes are categorised by thickness; 0.3mm, and 0.4mm. Both are 16mm in diameter, 1,000M long and with a choice of emitter spacing as 15cm, 20cm, and 30cm
Cost of drip irrigation tapes
| Thickness | 0.3mm | 0.4mm |
| Price | KES 7,500 | KES 8,500 |
The choice of drip line thickness depends on
- is it for out door or greenhouse installation? 0.3mm is fine in the greenhouse because it is no directly exposed to sunlight
- radiation level. where the sun’s radiation is high, 0.4mm is better
7. How much does it cost drip irrigation for 1 acre?
This depends on the crop type. Different crops have different drip irrigation piping requirements
Drip irrigation lines and pipes
By acreage pricing
| Crop Type | Lines Per Bed | Acreage | Cost in Kes |
| Watermelon, cucumber, butter nut | 1 | 0.125 | 15,000 |
| 0.25 | 25,000 | ||
| 0.50 | 45,000 | ||
| 1 | 85,000 | ||
| Tomato, cabbage, chilies, capsicum | 2 | 0.125 | 25,000 |
| 0.25 | 40,000 | ||
| 0.50 | 75,000 | ||
| 1 | 140,000 | ||
| Onion, garlic, herbs, spices, strawberry | 0.125 | 27,500 | |
| 3 | 0.25 | 45,000 | |
| 0.50 | 85,000 | ||
| 1 | 160,000 |
Drip irrigation on green beans by Grekkon Limited
Drip irrigation pipes for onion installed by Grekkon Limited
8. What time of day is best for drip irrigation?
Early morning is highly recommended. If not, then in the evening
9.How much pressure does a drip irrigation system need?
The minimum operating pressure is 3M or 0.3 bar
10. What pipes size should I use for drip irrigation?
There are 3 lines in an irrigation set-up
- main line. This one delivers water to the farm from the source; tank, water pan, lake or river. It is the largest
- sub-main line. It is connected to the main line to supply water to the drip irrigation tubes. It is lesser in diameter than the main line
- drip irrigation tape. it supplies water directly to the crop
The pipe size is a factor of acreage. The main line diameter size on 10 acres is larger than the main line diameter size on half an acre of drip irrigation. These pipes are either HDPE or PVC types
11. How do I start my own drip?
Our technical team guides new drip irrigation farmers on starting out. These are the steps to follow
- identify the area to undertake drip irrigation. It will have a close water source
- what crop is to be grown? this will guide on the number of drip rows per bed
- what is your budget? it determines the acreage to set up the system
Drip Irrigation System Layout
Grekkon Limited’s drip irrigation system layout is done for all farm sizes, and all crops. There 3 ways in which the company gathers data to develop a drip irrigation system layout
- Farmers provide detailed sketches as directed by the company from which a drip irrigation system layout is developed. This sketch will include; the farm dimensions in meters, the water source type, distance to the water source from the farm, details of any existing irrigation infrastructure, any existing roads or pathsways, any none farmable sections (rocky areas, wet lands, built up locations etc), planting beds layout, the direction(s) of slope, and the total vertical elevation
- Provide the farm’s map coordinates from which the company assesses the farm layout using satellite technology
- Conduct a physcal site assessment visit. This is only carried when 2 above cannot be done
The company only charges for the 3rd service to cover the logistical costs
A sample drip irrigation system layout for a 40 acre farm by Grekkon Limited
The company’s irrigation engineers will conduct a physical visit on a prospective farm to determine the following
i. The water source. The company measures the water volume, and analysis the quality. The volume determines the irrigation system to use, the size of the water pump, and the acreage covered. For intance, a farmer with a borehole yielding 15 cubic litres per hour is best positioned to irrigate using drip irrigation. His irrigated acreage will not exceed 30 acres for optimal water utilisation. On the other hand, a farmer by a large permanent river or lake water source will irrigate hundreds of acres using any irrigation method preferred. The water quality determines the type of filtration system to install.
A screen filter is for water under low pressure with a negligible amout of suspended dirt or other particles. A disc filter is preferred for water under high pressure, with a negligible to a modest amount of suspended dirt orcother particles. A sand filter is for dirty water under high pressure
A simple drip irrigation kit by gravitational flow system layout
ii. The dimensions of the farm in meters. to provide the total acreage. The acreage will determine the pipe diameter sizes, the water pump’s flow rate, and the sub-division of the irrigation blocks
iii. Slope. The elevation of the farm gives the vertical head or lift needed. This is important in determining the pressure rating of the water pump to install, the pipe diameters, the planting beds layout (these should be done against the slope), and the size of the irrigation blocks
iv. Any existing irrigation infrastructure; to determine what can be used or incorporated into the new system
v. Provide advise on security measures for key company installations such as; large water pumps, solar modules, solar inverters, control panels, cables, and other high value accessories
Key Requirements To Install A Drip Irrigation System
1. A water source
2. A water pump and piping mechanism to move this water from the source to the tank or directly to the drip irrigation system.
3. Water storage tank if you’re using gravity to irrigate
4. A tank connector
5. Pipes for the mainline and sub-main line.
6. Mainline and sub mainline fittings
7. Drip irrigation water filter
8. Drip irrigation pipes
9. Accessories
10. Ball valves
Steps To Follow In Designing A Drip Irrigation Layout
- Determine where the water pump or water tank will be placed. Water tanks are used for small acreage gravity flow irrigation, and should be placed at highest elevation to allow ease of water flow by gravity
- The main line originates from the water tank or water pump. The size of the main line determines the volume of irrigation water delivered to the farm in every irrigation session. The larger the farm, the greater the diameter of the mainline
- The water filter is connected along the main line
- A venturi fertigation system where needed is along the main line. The venturi fertigation system is a chemifertigation centre that allows drenching of chemicals and fertiliser through the drip irrigation system
- The air release valves are along the main line. Air release valves are installed where the water pressure is high. This is in steep elevations, or if the water is chanelled via a high pressure water pump. They prevent air locks in the irrigation system. Air locks dramatically reduce, or cease water flow in the system
- A sub main line will be connected to the main line along its way using hydrants. Hydrants are points from which irrigation in a block is controlled from. They can be automated using solenoid valves, or manually operated through ordinary valves. The decision to have sub main lines is a factor of the farm size. In small drip irrigation set ups, the drip pips are directly connected to the main line. In larger acreage, the drip line originate from the sub mainline
- The main line is always larger in diameter than the sub main line. The diameter of the sub main line is determined by the size of the main line. The larger the latter, the larger the sub main line is
- The hydrants are positioned at the beginning or end of every irrigation block
- Planting beds are done against the slope. This is to slow down erosion, and allow better water percolation in the soil during the rainy season. The width of the planting bed is determined by the crop type
- Drip lines lie along the length of the planting beds. The number of drip lines per bed depends on the crop type. E.g 2 drip lines are installed for tomato, 3 drip lines for onion or garlic, and 4 drip lines for some herbs and spices
A 3 row drip layout per bed installed in Birikani area of Kajiado county
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
- 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
- Mounting structure for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
- 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
- A solar water pump controller
- 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
Drip Irrigation Kit
| Acreage | Price (Kes) |
| 0.25 | 105,000 |
| 0.5 | 145,000 |
| 1 | 230,000 |
A Grekkon surface solar water pump for irrigation
2. Rain hose kit
| Acreage | Price (Kes) |
| 0.25 | 85,000 |
| 0.5 | 110,000 |
| 1 | 145,000 |
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.