Featured Agriculture Grant: KickStart
that is cleaner and more accessible than than
water from far-off streams.
Pumping Up Economic Opportunities for African Farmers
Irrigation radically improves farm output and increases a farmer's income. This is particularly critical in East Africa, where long dry seasons thwart crops and bring devastating hunger. Motorized pumps are costly, well beyond the reach of most poor farmers. So KickStart, an international nonprofit founded in Kenya, developed a new kind of mechanical pump designed specifically for use on small farms in Africa.
KickStart embodies the idea that local solutions are the best way to meet local needs. With support from the Lemelson Foundation, KickStart is improving its innovative technology, creating stronger, cheaper, and more easily transportable pumps designed specifically for the terrain of East Africa. By establishing a well-thought out supply chain and cultivating a new market for the pumps, KickStart has already contributed to the creation of 80,000 new businesses in Kenya, Tanzania and Mali. The new businesses generate over 0.5% of Kenya’s GDP, proving that a small technological enhancement can have significant economic impact.
Read more: Learn how you can support KickStart
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