Drip irrigation is transforming agriculture in major dry or semi-arid areas which supports crop production. The Kenyan climate is often changing with prolonged periods of drought, making farming difficult.
With drip irrigation, you can use less water to produce crops throughout the year. Irrigation coordinates with rainfall to ensure crops meet the right water requirements for proper growth.
What are the Cost of Drip Irrigation Kits
Drip kits Prices are between KES 30,000 to KES 240,000 in Kenya depending on the size of farm to irrigate.
We also have exclusive prices of Drip irrigation Kits for 1 acre priced according to number of driplines per bed. They are as below;
| Farm size | Cost of Drip Kit |
| 1 Acre | 135,000 – 180,000 |
| ½ Acre | 70,000 – 90,000 |
| ¼ Acre | 40,000 – 55,000 |
| ⅛ Acre | 20,000 – 25,000 |
Understanding Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is the use of special drip emitters to deliver water to plants in a cautious water-retaining manner. Emitters are pipes with holes spaced at equal intervals along the pipe length to ooze water droplets on the plant line.
What Components to Set Drip Irrigation Kits
Drip Tapes: Driplines provide adequate water volumes to plants at equal rates.
Mainline HDPE Pipes: Connect the water source to the delivery pipes. Move water from the source to plant roots.
Fittings: Connects various components of drip irrigation systems including delivery pipes.
Filters: To prevent debris from clogging the system driplines and pipes.
Pressure Regulator: Maintains water pressure throughout the system.
Fertigation Kits: Fertilizer Injection device
Choice of Pipes for Start Connection of Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation setup can use HDPE (high-density polyethylene pipes) or PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) Pipes. HDPE is preferable to PVC due to its flexibility and highly durable nature. They can bend and are thus efficient for use in corners, and diversions.
Which Crops Are Suitable for the Drip Irrigation Method?
Most small-scale and large-scale crops include vegetables (kale, onions, cabbage, lettuce spinach, garlic, tomato, capsicum, and broccoli.
Other crops are strawberries, corn, french peas, pepper, ground nuts, and fruits.
Drip Fertigation
Fertilizers can be distributed to crops via drip irrigation systems using fertilizer injectors. This method is known as fertigation, and it maintains a balanced distribution of fertilizers to plants on the field.
How Drip Irrigation Improves Production
The Design of drip kits promotes efficiency as it lowers water use and labor needs. Provided they are well installed, it can work on both open fields and inside greenhouse environments. You can easily control the rate of water and fertilizer to feed crops and therefore promote optimal growth.
The method also prevents weeds and diseases such as fungal infections, wilting, and leaf rust.
How to Choose Drip Irrigation Accessories
Aqua Hub Kenya offers free consultation on the appropriate drip irrigation kits and their cost prices. We help clients get the best driplines and connection accessories as per their farm size and crop types. Our basis of consideration when choosing drip kits are.
Farm Size: Your farm determines the number of pipes and fittings you need.
Crop type: Different crops have different spacing and thus may require different dripline spacing.
Durability: Buy quality UV-treated driplines from certified suppliers as they last long.
Landscape: the topography or nature of your farm determines which driplines to buy.
How to Install Drip Kits on a step-by-step basis
- Start by planning and preparing the land for setting up the drip irrigation system.
- Consult irrigation suppliers for site visit checks
- After the site visit is done cultivate the land to remove rocks, smoothen soil, and ensure proper soil depth.
- Make beds for propagation.
- Once your beds are ready, prepare trenches 1 ft deep to lay pipes.
- Set up a tank connection to store water for drip irrigation.
- Lay mainline and sub-mainline pipes on the trenches.
- Connect the tank to the mainline pipe connection using a tank connector.
- Connect the pipes using appropriate fittings.
- Lay driplines and connect them to the system.
- Test and flush the system
- Seal the pipe ends with end plugs.
What are the Advantages of Drip Kits
- Does not require a pump to move water. The drip system works under gravitational pressure flow due to the tank set up 3m high.
- It saves a lot of water because the system only irrigates areas near the plant roots.
- Results in higher crop yield since target crop irrigation increases growth potential.
- Low evaporation rate occurs because much land surface is not watered.
- It works in irrigation of wide range of crops including fruits and vegetables.
- Applicable in open field, greenhouse, and shade house irrigation.
How to Maintain Drip Systems
- Always check for leaks, clogged emitters, and other issues.
- Clean the filters periodically to prevent clogging.
- If applicable, drain the system to prevent freezing damage.
Tips for High Yield with Drip Irrigation
- Develop an irrigation schedule based on your crop’s water needs and climate conditions.
- Automation of the system to enhance Labor efficiency and cost reduction.
- You can use soil moisture sensors to monitor the soil moisture to ensure efficient irrigation.
- Apply mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and conserve water.
- Consider injecting fertilizers through the irrigation system for efficient nutrient delivery.
- If you’re unsure about any step, consult with a drip irrigation specialist.
