British International Investment (BII) has announced a follow-on investment of $4 million in SunCulture, a Kenyan company specializing in solar energy solutions and irrigation equipment.
This new funding, building on BII’s 2023 support that facilitated the distribution of 9,000 solar irrigation systems across Kenya, aims to further expand SunCulture’s reach and improve affordability for smallholder farmers.
The investment will primarily support the scaling of a novel carbon financing initiative.
This program is designed to significantly lower the initial cost of solar irrigation technology for farmers, ultimately enabling up to 16,000 smallholder farmers to access these systems affordably and boost their agricultural output.
“Our further investment in SunCulture will continue to reduce the upfront costs of solar irrigation systems, allowing us to reach more smallholder farmers in Kenya,” said Christopher Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at BII.
He added, “This will not only increase farmland productivity and farmers’ incomes but also improve their resilience to the impacts of climate change.”
Mr Chijiutomi also highlighted the significance of the carbon financing model in attracting private sector investment and driving innovation within agriculture.
“As the UK’s development finance institution, we are proud to support a pioneering carbon financing pilot that demonstrates feasibility and attracts private capital,” he commented. “This initiative exemplifies our commitment to fostering innovation, enhancing food security, and improving access to clean energy for all.”
This investment reinforces the commitment to sustainable agriculture and climate-smart solutions.
By providing smallholder farmers with reliable and cost-effective irrigation, BII and SunCulture are contributing to both agricultural resilience and carbon reduction efforts in Kenya.
