Eric Onchong'a

About Irri-Hub Irri-Hub is transforming the lives of smallholder farmers in Africa by delivering climate-smart, affordable irrigation solutions paired with essential support services. Their mission is to empower over 30 million smallholder farmers, enhancing crop yields, building climate resilience, and uplifting farming communities through sustainable practices. The Challenge Agriculture drives Africa’s economy, contributing 23% to GDP and employing 60% of its workforce, yet smallholder farmers face severe limitations. With 97% dependent on rain-fed farming and limited access to irrigation and market opportunities, their potential remains underutilized. Climate change further worsens this, threatening both food security and livelihoods, making it crucial to support smallholder farmers—who make up 80% of African farms. The Innovation Irri-Hub provides a holistic solution through solar-powered drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and ongoing agronomy support. Farmers receive comprehensive training in regenerative agriculture, improving their knowledge and efficiency while gaining market access. This approach helps maximize productivity, reduces input costs, and sustainably increases income. A key innovation is Irri-Hub’s integration of IoT technology, including sensors and a cloud-based platform for precision farming. This allows real-time monitoring of crops via mobile and USSD services, providing farmers with timely recommendations based on climatic and soil conditions. By predicting optimal growth conditions, Irri-Hub reduces crop failure by up to 90%, helping farmers make better-informed decisions. By combining affordable irrigation, comprehensive farmer support, and innovative technology, Irri-Hub is driving a resilient, productive farming model that strengthens both economic and environmental outcomes for smallholder farmers.