Suzanne's Mom's Blog

A recent article in the Guardian got me interested in learning a bit more about a technical college in Kenya called Latia Agripreneurship Institute.

The website says, “Latia Agribusiness Solutions (LAS), is a business support services provider to the Agribusinesses in all sectors. It facilitates Agribusinesses (farm and firm), to access markets, farm products, technology, financial services and workforce solutions. It delivers these services through an agribusiness ecosystem consisting of local and international companies who have come together to address the needs of Agribusiness in Africa.”

The school is casting a very wide net for prospective students: “LAI uses an industry led, market driven and competency based approach to deliver a broad training program referred to as ‘Apprenticeship.’

The program targets anyone who can read and write and the core criterion for selection is the passion for agribusiness, the ability and readiness to either invest in own farm, or gain meaningful employment in the industry.

Geoffrey Kamadi reports at the Guardian on a collaboration between joining LAI and the UK’s University of Sheffield.

“Solar panels are not a new way of providing cheap power across much of the African continent, where there is rarely a shortage of sunshine. But growing crops underneath the panels is, and the process has had such promising trials in Kenya that it will be deployed this week in open-field farms.

“Known as agrivoltaics, the technique harvests solar energy twice: where panels have traditionally been used to harness the sun’s rays to generate energy, they are also utilized to provide shade for growing crops, helping to retain moisture in the soil and boosting growth.

“An initial year-long research collaboration between the University of Sheffield, World Agroforestry and the Kajiado-based Latia Agripreneurship Institute has shown promising results in the semi-arid Kajiado county, a 90-minute drive from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi and this week the full project will be officially launched.

“For example, cabbages grown under the 180, 345-watt solar panels have been a third bigger, and healthier, than those grown in control plots with the same amount of fertilizer and water.

“Other crops such as aubergine [eggplant] and lettuce have shown similar results. Maize [corn] grown under the panels was taller and healthier, according to Judy Wairimu, an agronomist at the institute. …

“According to Dr Richard Randle-Boggis, a researcher at the University of Sheffield’s Harvesting the Sun Twice project, the trial initiative will determine the potential of agrivoltaic systems in east Africa.

“ ‘We needed to build a test system to see if this technology will be suitable for the region,’ Randle-Boggis said, reiterating that, unlike conventional solar mini-grid systems, agrivoltaics have the additional benefits of improving food and water security, while strengthening people’s resilience against the climate crisis, as well as providing low-carbon electricity. …

” ‘Agrivoltaics can have a notable impact on household income in remote locations such as Kajiado. ‘Women here can spend up to 300 Kenyan shillings [$2.68] on a bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) fare to the market just to buy vegetables worth 100 Kenyan shillings,’ said Anne Macharia, head of training at Latia Agripreneurship Institute.

“The solar panels can be placed three metres [about 10 feet] from the ground, providing ample room for a farmer to work below, or higher in bigger systems to allow access for agricultural machinery. … In other countries, including France, the US and Germany, the technology has been employed successfully.” More at the Guardian, here.

I have posted numerous stories about innovations in Kenya over the last decade. Search this blog on the word “Kenya” for more.