Drip irrigation has become a household name in agriculture. It is an irrigation method that delivers water to a plant’s root-zone, enabling the farmer to grow crops with much less water compared to other irrigation methods. Drip systems are adaptive to terrain, soils, harsh climates, and choice of crops (except those that are broadcasted).
Irrihydrosol Ltd is the perfect choice for constructing a drip system for your crops, as well as button drippers for your fruit and banana trees. Both methods are efficient in water application, are easy to maintain, and lasts 10-15 years. In fact, drip systems can increase a farmer’s water efficiency by up to 70% and reduce energy costs by 50%. Irrihydrosol Ltd. supplies and installs customized irrigation systems based on crop type, terrain, water availability, location, and the farmer’s budget.
Types of Drip Irrigation Systems
1. Pre-perforated Drip Tape Systems
This is the most common drip irrigation method, where drip tapes are used to irrigate crops. The tapes vary in thickness and diameter, and have pre-perforated emitters that are spaced at different intervals.
i) Drip tape thickness
The thickness of the drip tape varies, and can be 0.3mm or 0.8mm, and depends on where the farmer wants to irrigate. The 0.3mm thick drip tapes are used for irrigating normal crop such as vegetables and herbs. The 0.8mm thick drip takes, on the other hand, are ideal for hedges and orchards as they are durable and can resist being pricked or damaged.
ii) Drip tape diameter
Drip tape diameters vary and can be 8mm, 12mm, or 16mm wide.
iii) Emitter spacing
Lastly, the emitter spacing also varies depending on the crops water requirements. The emitters can be 10cm, 15cm, 20cm or 30cm apart.
Drip Irrigation Kit Prices in Kenya 2025
| Land Size | Size in Square Meters | Price in KES |
|---|---|---|
Bucket drip irrigation kit |
Supports up to 100 seedlings |
KES 2,100 |
Kitchen garden drip irrigation kit |
7m x 15m (105 m2) |
KES 10,000 |
1/8th Acre commercial drip irrigation kit |
15m x 30m (450 m2) |
KES 18,000 |
1/4 Acre commercial drip irrigation kit |
30m x 30m (900 m2) |
KES 35,000 |
1/2 Acre commercial drip irrigation kit |
1800 m2 |
KES 65,000 |
One acre commercial drip irrigation kit |
3600 m2 |
KES 145,000 |
NOTE: The following costs are not included in the Drip irrigation kit prices: Tank, Raised platform, Installation costs, Labor, Transport, Consultation fee.
2. Button Dripper Systems
This is a drip irrigation system suited to irrigate trees or crops which are much spaced. Crops to be irrigated may include passion fruit, mangoes, bananas, and citrus. Button drippers are installed to access water at the foot of the crop. Depending on the size of the crop, one or more buttons may be installed per tree.
1/4 Acre Button Dripper Kit (KES 20,000)
The ¼ acre Button Kit covers an area of 450m2 and is capable of irrigating up to 60 tree seedlings spaced at 3m x 3m. A 1,000 liters storage tank may require to be raised at least 3m above ground to boost the pressure at the drippers. The kit comes with a filter, all connectors, sub-main pipe, distribution pipe, and button drippers to cover the land/plot. The kit can be adjusted as per the farm layout and already planted trees. All pipes and fittings are of HDPE thus protected from U.V. weathering.
NOTE: For wider trees such as bananas, more material may be required to loop the crop.
1/2 Acre Button Dripper Kit (KES 35,000)
This kit is similar to the ¼ Acre Kit but covers an area of 900m2 with an approx. 120 seedlings if spaced at 3m x 3m. The kit requires a 2,000-liter water tank raised at 3m above ground. For larger or differently structured layouts, tailor-made systems can be designed.
Button Dripper Kit Prices
| Kit Size | Coverage | Price (KES) | Tree Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
1/4 Acre Button Kit |
450 m² |
KES 20,000 |
Up to 60 trees |
1/2 Acre Button Kit |
900 m² |
KES 35,000 |
Up to 120 trees |
NOTE: The following costs are not included in the button dripper kit prices: Tank, Raised platform, Installation costs, Labor, Transport, Consultation fee.
Detailed Drip Irrigation Kits Description
1. Bucket Drip Irrigation Kit (KES 2,100)
This is a drip irrigation system composed of a 20 liters bucket raised to a height of 1 meter, connected to two drip lines of 15m length running in parallel, and spaced at 60cm. The drip kit can support up to 100 vegetable seedlings such as kales, spinach, okra, capsicum, and tomatoes if spaced at 30cm; and more closely spaced seedlings such as carrots and dhania.
This kit is very suitable for backyards where space is limited to growing vegetables for household use.
It is also a very suitable kit for training and demonstration of drip irrigation at institutions and field days. This kit is very easy to set up and it does not need running water as you use another container to refill it.
2. Kitchen Garden Drip Irrigation Kit (KES 10,000)
This is a drip irrigation kit suited for kitchen gardens. It covers an area of 7m x 15m, and is operated with a 200 liters water tank raised at 1 meter above the ground. It has 11 drip lines running in parallel at 60cm spacing. The kit offers an option of creating 4 beds with two drip lines each, with paths in between. The paths are formed by closing and rolling back every third drip line to create a path. The farmer can also operate all the drip lines as a plot. This gives the farmer flexibility to plant different varieties of crops without wasting water by having drip lines that are not in use.
This kit is very suitable for a family garden where at least 4 beds can be created to plant different varieties of vegetables. The extra produce can earn the farmer some income. It is also a very suitable kit for training and demonstration at field days, where people can learn how to plan out a farm using drip irrigation.
3. 1/8 Acre Commercial Drip Irrigation Kit (KES 18,000)
This kit covers an area of 15m x30m (50ft x100ft), and it requires a 1000 liters water tank raised at least 1m above ground. It is suitable for vegetables and close-spaced crops. The drip lines are spaced at 60cm, and can support up to 750 seedlings such as cabbage or tomatoes spaced at 60cm x 60cm. The kit is usually flexible that the farmer can opt to create beds or plant the crops continuously on a flat surface. Past experience has proven that when a high-value vegetable is grown in this plot, the farmer can recover the cost of purchasing this kit in just one season. The 1000 liters tank is sufficient to irrigate the crop once, and repeated twice or thrice a week depending on the season and age of the crop. It is possible to block some drip lines if the spacing between crop rows demands so.
This kit comes with 750m of drip line, its connectors, 17m of the main pipe, a filter, and a gate valve. The costs above do not cover a storage tank and a raised platform at least 1m above ground.
4. 1/4 Acre Commercial Drip Irrigation Kit (KES 35,000)
This kit covers an area of 30m x 30m (100ft x 100ft), and is suitable for vegetables and close-spaced crops. The drip lines are spaced at 60cm. The kit is usually flexible that the farmer can opt to create beds or plant the crops continuously on a flat surface. The kit requires an accompanying water tank of 2,000 liters or more, placed on a platform that is at least 1m high. Where a 1000 liters tank is used, the system can be partitioned into two sections to enable irrigation in rotation. It is possible to block some drip lines if the spacing between crop rows demands so.
This kit comes with 1500m of drip line, its connectors, 33m of the main pipe, a filter, and a gate valve.
5. 1/2 Acre Commercial Drip Irrigation Kit (KES 65,000)
This kit is double the area of the 1/4 Acre Commercial Kit, and covers an area of 1,800m2. When the size of the irrigated land increases, it is necessary to contact the company to give guidelines. This is because of the extra pipework required to deliver the water to the start point, and is not covered in the Kit.
This kit comes with 3000m of drip line, its connectors, 95m of the main pipe, a filter, and 5 gate valves. This kit requires a storage tank and a raised platform at least 2m above ground, which is not covered by the kit price.
6. One Acre Commercial Drip Irrigation Kit (KES 145,000)
This drip kit covers an area of 3,600m2, which is equivalent to one acre, including paths within the irrigated land. When the land is covered in drip lines spaced at 60cm, assuming cabbages or tomatoes are planted at 60cm x 60cm spacing, 10,000 seedlings can be planted under this kit. Extra pipes not included in the kit price are required to distribute water to the hydrants within the field. Consult with the company to guide on the extra material that may be required based on the farm layout.
This kit comes with 6,000m of drip line, its connectors, 260m of the main pipe, a filter, and 9 gate valves. The kit also requires a storage tank and a raised platform at least 2m above ground, which is not covered by the kit price.
What are the Benefits of Drip Irrigation in Kenya?
- Water Conservation: Drip irrigation avails water to the plant root zone, thus minimizing water wastage through evaporation and runoff.
- High Crop Yields: With drip’s precision irrigation, plants get enough water for healthy growth, while also minimizing leaching.
- Versatile: Drip systems can be tailor-made to suit farms with different sizes, shapes and crop types.
- Reduces Plant Diseases: Water does not get into contact with the leaves, therefore minimizing fungal infections.
- Reduces Labor and Cost: The farmer can save time, money and water as drip systems designs are efficient and can be automated.
- Reduces Weed Growth: Only the planting beds are irrigated, while the other areas such as paths remaining dry, where otherwise weeds would grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of a drip irrigation system in Kenya?
Drip kits prices range from KES 2,100 for a bucket kit supporting 100 seedlings to KES 145,000 for a one-acre commercial drip system. The price vary depending on the farm size, components used, and the type of crop.
| Land Size | Size in Square Meters | Price in KES |
|---|---|---|
Bucket drip irrigation kit |
Supports up to 100 seedlings |
KES 2,100 |
Kitchen garden drip irrigation kit |
7m x 15m (105 m2) |
KES 10,000 |
1/8th Acre commercial drip irrigation kit |
15m x 30m (450 m2) |
KES 18,000 |
1/4 Acre commercial drip irrigation kit |
30m x 30m (900 m2) |
KES 35,000 |
1/2 Acre commercial drip irrigation kit |
1800 m2 |
KES 65,000 |
One acre commercial drip irrigation kit |
3600 m2 |
KES 145,000 |
What is the cost of button dripper irrigation system in Kenya?
| Kit Size | Coverage | Price (KES) | Tree Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
1/4 Acre Button Kit |
450 m² |
KES 20,000 |
Up to 60 trees |
1/2 Acre Button Kit |
900 m² |
KES 35,000 |
Up to 120 trees |
Which drip irrigation kit is best for vegetables in Kenya?
For vegetables, a KES 10,000 kitchen garden kit with a size of 7m x 15m is sufficient for household use. Kits like the 1/8 acre (KES 18,000) or ¼ acre (KES 35,000) kits are also popularly used in vegetable farming, where the surplus produce can be commercial.
Can I use drip irrigation for fruit trees like mangoes and bananas?
Yes! There is a special type of drip system for trees called button/orchard kit, and is specially designed for irrigating widely spaced crops such as citrus trees. Irrihydrosol offers these kits in tailor made sizes, depending on your farm size. The cost for ¼ acre and ½ acre button kits cost KES 20,000 and KES 35,000 respectively.
Is drip irrigation suitable for dry areas in Kenya?
Absolutely! Drip irrigation works efficiently for both arid and semi-arid areas as it saves up to 70% of water and 50% of energy costs compared to traditional methods.
What size of water tank do I need for drip irrigation?
For small systems like kitchen gardens, a 200-liter tank works well. Larger systems may need a 1,000 to 2,000-liter tank, placed at least 1 to 2 meters high to provide adequate pressure.
How long does a drip irrigation system last in Kenya?
Irrihydrosol Ltd’s drip kits are made from UV-treated materials, and can therefore can withstand weathering from being exposed to sun rays for long. With proper installation and maintenance, these kits can last 10 to 15 years.
Can I install a drip irrigation system myself?
Yes, but only the small kits with very few components. Kits like the bucket kit and kitchen garden kit are fairly easy to install, and with the right instructions and guidance, one can install them. The bigger kits, however, require a lot of components and customization, therefore requiring professional expertise.
Which crops are best irrigated using drip systems?
Drip irrigation supports many crops which include: vegetables such as Sukuma wiki, broccoli, capsicum, onions and cabbages; herbs such as rosemary, basil, mint and ginger; and orchard/fruit system for bananas, mangoes, citrus fruits etc.
Where can I buy drip irrigation kits in Kenya?
At Irrihydrosol Ltd, we train, design, supply, and install affordable drip irrigation systems, specifically tailored to the farmer’s wants and need.
Other services offered by Irrihydrosol
Borehole drilling and servicing
Irrigation products and services
For information contact us here
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