Farmers in Garissa County say solar-powered irrigation is lifting harvests and slashing operating costs, giving arid and semi-arid agriculture a more reliable footing as fuel prices and rainfall remain unpredictable.
The systems are replacing petrol and diesel pumps in several farming areas, giving growers steadier access to water and removing much of the recurring cost of fuel. Savings, farmers say, are being ploughed back into seeds, fertiliser, labour and other inputs. Reliable water is also allowing production beyond the traditional rainy seasons.
Along the Tana River, solar-powered pumps lift water into pipelines and distribution networks serving groups of smallholder farmers. For those who previously ran generators, the drop in pumping costs has been sharp. Irrigation has also increased the number of planting cycles, keeping fields productive in dry periods when rain-fed farming would normally stop.
Garissa has significant irrigation potential from the Tana River and groundwater, but only a fraction of that potential is in use. Solar technology is emerging as one of the tools to expand production while shielding farmers from rising fuel prices.
Government and development partners have backed several irrigation schemes in the county, including solar-powered projects aimed at smallholders and commercial production of vegetables, fruits and other high-value crops.
The shift is also being tied to climate resilience and food security, as households look for ways to keep farming amid erratic rains and recurring drought.
Challenges remain. Farmers still face weak water infrastructure, limited access to inputs, thin market links and flood risk along the Tana. Agricultural stakeholders say pairing solar pumps with efficient water use — including drip irrigation — could help the county unlock more of its agricultural potential.
The arithmetic of Farmers on the ground is becoming straightforward: lower pumping costs, more reliable water and higher output are making solar energy a practical tool for transforming agriculture in Garissa.
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