Today I ventured out to the rural areas of this lovely country. Where the air is clean and there's nothing but green and some more shades of green as far as the eye can see. My Program Manager, Pauline and I headed to Naivasha, about a one to two hour drive from Nairobi to visit farmers using irrigation pumps created by a local NGO named KickStart.
KickStart has created durable, affordable, transportable irrigation pumps that are transforming the lives of rural farmers in Kenya and throughout Africa. Farmers spend so much time transporting water to and from their fields via many bucket loads every day. When the dry season hits, they struggle to sustainably water and grow their crops to continue feeding their family and generate income.
KickStart has come up with a simple solution to aid farmers in managing their crops year round and to upscale them from subsistence farming to selling to neighbors and wholesale markets. Through the use of low maintenance treadle and hip pumps farmers can now easily sustain and expand their crops. Pauline and I were fortunate to meet a couple of farmers who have benefited from these pumps.
An older woman using a treadle pump is able to grow her crops year round by easily pumping water from the small pond she dug last year and spreading it around her five acres of land. She and her husband have no trouble feeding their family and selling the excess produce to the local community, bringing in a significant amount of income each month. Another gentleman has been using his pump for almost 20 years on his twelve acres of land. He's been able to expand his crop varieties as well as try new things like beekeeping and operating a green house.
KickStart is greatly changing the lives of farmers every day all over Kenya. Pauline and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with the team and seeing the amazing impacts taking place in the rural communities. Just being on the farm today was such a wonderful escape from Nairobi and a reminder that some of the greatest things in life are simple. Those simple things found in nature, like wide open fields of green, birds chirping in nearby trees and a breeze that rustles past with a fragrance of fresh rain. And of course the hushed sounds of water swishing as it is being pumped by a treadle or hip pump to water the food so many in Kenya are dependent upon.
Farmer showcasing her treadle pump
I gave it a try - it's like a Stairmaster!
Pauline's turn....
Now for the hip pump - you've really got to put your hip into it!
Tough work!
Off to try and sell a pump or two
I'm holding one of the pump hoses after a demonstration at a local farmer's home - sale successful!
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