How Nakuru farm harnesses solar for sustainable agriculture

It is midmorning in Kikapu Village in Nakuru county, off Nakuru Mau-Narok road, in Kenya. From afar, the sound of a busy chuff cutter welcomes you to Wilda Farm.

Dr. Harun Warui, a co-founder of the farm says it begun its operations in 2016 and ran solely on hydroelectric power until 2023 when they realized that the farm that hosts 13 dairy cows, 15 sheep, and several number of poultry birds, was unable to shoulder the heavy cost of production, and it was eating into the farm’s income.

The farm then installed a solar system that includes 12 solar panels that generate 12 kilowatts of solar energy that complements hydroelectric power.

“Our solar is 12 kilowatts in capacity production and it’s on a hybrid system, such that we’re able to complement the electric power we’re getting from the main grid, this has seen a significant reduction of our total consumption,” he says.

Dr. Warui says the power produced in the farm is usually used to pump water from a borehole for farm use, milk pasteurization, and running a chuff cutter that once used to run on hydroelectric power.

“Mainly, it’s for pumping water, making the livestock feed by running our chaff cutter, and milling. And other operations like milk pasteurization we use solar to cut the cost,” Warui explains.

He says, since the farm installed solar energy the cost of production and farm operations have reduced significantly, thus increasing its profit margins compared to huge power bills they used to pay before they incorporated it.

“We have been able to reduce our electricity by around 30%. Looking at the bills that we used to pay before we installed solar and the bills we are paying now, you can see the difference,” he says.

Just like many other farmers and organisations that have embedded solar power in their energy mix, there is always a challenge of power availability during the overcast seasons because the solar panels are unable to tap the maximum heat capacity.

“I’ve observed that during the rainy, and overcast season my electricity bills are higher than the dry season,” Warui admits.

Dr. Warui plans to invest in solar batteries to store excess energy produced when the weather is favorable during the day. This can be utilized later in the night time or when needed during the day. The plan he says, will strengthen the farm’s energy system.

For him, economic considerations and environmental responsibility played a significant role in the choice to invest in solar. He says, the main denominator is the cost reduction, so they strive to go for green sources of energy.

The farm’s solar installation works was done by Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) using their tools and expertise, although minor faults are periodically handled by a local expert, the system has shown to be dependable.

 “We have never had major breakdowns apart from maybe the meter that we use to monitor the consumption. In terms of efficiency, it’s okay,” Warui notes.

For Warui, the benefits of solar go beyond Wilda Farm. He sees renewable energy as a lifeline for Kenyan farmers struggling with rising costs.

“I have seen communities that are running their farms on solar and it has reduced their running cost. So, I’ll tell my colleagues in the farming community and also other users that let’s move on to solar energy,” he says.

Jackline Mutebi an extension officer from Kakamega county, says farmers interested in investing solar energy must first asses they general farm energy requirement, and their financial muscle to achieve it. If they are unable to invest all at once it will be good to start small and grow progressively to where they want.

She highlights the importance of collaborating with certified service providers in the industry to avoid substandard installations that is dangerous and eventually cost farmers more to repair in the long run.

“Over time, investing in solar energy is a wise choice as it reduces expenses, enhances efficiency, and enables farms to adapt to climate change,” she stated.

She further observed that there are several advantages of solar powered farming that includes food security, climate resilience, and boosting rural livelihoods. She says that  with it, farmers can consistently thus strengthen overall food supply.

With solar energy comes reduced reliance of expensive diesel-powered generators and erratic hydroelectric power, lowers carbon emissions making agriculture more climate friendly.

“Solar-powered farming is transforming villages because it ensures stable food production, protects farmers from climate shocks, and creates income opportunities that keep rural communities thriving,” she said.

A number of microfinances institutions are enabling Kenyan farmers access solar energy easily through providing them with credit below market rates for installation of agricultural technologies including, water harvesting system, home lighting and solar system.

Solar energy has revolutionized agriculture in Kenya by enabling irrigation, cold storage and other farming models, and replaced the use of diesel water pumps that had been in use for long and has been known to be counterproductive to the environment.

Globally, the solar energy is being felt in the agriculture value chain in addressing issues of water scarcity and post-harvest challenges. Farmers in California practice agrivoltaics to grow crops like berries that improves soil moisture and at the same time protecting them from direct sunlight.

In the meantime, solar irrigation projects in Rwanda are increasing crop yields and improving food security in rural, off-grid populations.

John Kibor a renewable energy expert in Nakuru city says, the high price of diesel and the unstable grid energy have long been problems for Kenya's agriculture sector, which have a direct impact on output. More and more farmers are embracing renewable energy to run their ventures geared towards cost saving.

“Solar has become a game-changer for farms because it reduces the heavy dependence on diesel and unreliable grid power,” notes Kibor.

Kibor says easy accessibility of solar energy makes it makes it a preference for many farmers, both small scale and large scale, just like Wilda farm to run feed processing and irrigation purposes. The end result is improving food security across the country, and ability to do year-round farming without worries.

As climate change intensifies and energy costs sky-rocket, farmers like Dr. Warui are showing that clean energy is not just possible—it is practical.

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