Kickstart announces $15mn green agriculture investment in SSA

Kickstart, a non-profit social enterprise, has announced a $15 million investment over the next three years into irrigation projects aimed at enabling smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa to increase their income and adapt to climate change. In an exclusive interview with CNBC Africa, Martin Fisher, CEO of Kickstart, shared the organization's mission and strategies to revolutionize agriculture in the region. Fisher explained that Kickstart's focus is on helping farmers transition from rain-fed to irrigated farming. By using low-cost, zero-carbon, human-powered irrigation pumps, farmers can grow and sell high-value fruits and vegetables year-round, making them less susceptible to market fluctuations and climatic uncertainties. These pumps, which resemble a Stairmaster machine or a bicycle pump, are affordable, portable, and easy to use, making them accessible to a large number of farmers. With over 380,000 farmers already benefiting from Kickstart's pumps in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, the organization has made a commitment to reach an additional 100,000 smallholder farmers in the coming years. This initiative is expected to help over 1.4 million individuals escape poverty and enhance their resilience to climate change. One of the key challenges facing Kickstart is the need for behavior change among farmers. Convincing farmers to invest in irrigation and adopt new farming practices requires extensive education and demonstrations. Additionally, access to financing remains a barrier for many farmers, despite the relatively low cost of the irrigation pumps. To address this issue, Kickstart is exploring innovative financing models, including rent-to-try-and-buy schemes, to make the pumps more financially accessible. To further promote irrigation in the region, Fisher emphasized the importance of government policies that support smallholder irrigation, such as reducing import duties on irrigation technologies and providing subsidies. He also stressed the need for continuous outreach and education to encourage more farmers to embrace irrigated farming, highlighting the potential economic benefits and food security improvements that irrigation can bring. In conclusion, Kickstart's ambitious $15 million investment in green agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa signals a significant step towards transforming the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers. By promoting sustainable farming practices and facilitating access to affordable irrigation technologies, Kickstart aims to not only alleviate poverty but also enhance food security and climate resilience in the region.