From striving to success: Ben Blasto’s career as an irrigation agent
In Kenya’s Homa Bay County, the rhythm of farming is changing. Once governed entirely by the rains, more smallholder farmers are irrigating their land, growing high-value crops in the dry season, and increasing their incomes.
Helping to drive this change is Ben Blasto, a trained agriculturalist and father of two who is advising his community on how to access affordable irrigation through KickStart International’s Rent to Try and Buy (R2T&B) model.
Ben is one of dozens of young entrepreneurs supported by KickStart International’s R2T&B program. Through the income he earns renting out KickStart’s simple, effective irrigation tools, he has built a livelihood for himself and his family. His work is also helping over 200 farmers improve agricultural productivity, adopt sustainable practices, and build long-term food and income security.
But his journey reflects more than just entrepreneurial success—it’s a story of persistence, practical innovation, and what becomes possible when the right tools reach the right hands.
Doing everything right—and still facing barriers
Ben did everything right. He earned diplomas in both information technology and agriculture, hoping to find stable employment. But like many young people in rural Kenya, he struggled to find work. With few formal jobs available, he turned to farming, the backbone of Kenya’s economy. While the potential was there, the cost of irrigating his crops made it difficult to succeed.
Before Ben discovered KickStart, farmers in his community rented generator-powered pumps at a cost of roughly $15 per day—an expense that quickly added up and excluded many farmers from irrigating altogether.
That changed when Ben was introduced to KickStart’s R2T&B model. With a single MoneyMaker pump, he began irrigating his own crops and renting the pump to neighboring farmers for just $2.30 a day. The business took off almost immediately—and for Ben, it was more than just a source of income. It provided a practical solution to unemployment, allowing him to support his family more consistently and build a future rooted in agriculture.
“I serve 215 farmers, but having just one pump was a big challenge,” Ben said. “Farmers need it daily, and they get frustrated when they have to wait.”
Growing a business with purpose
Ben used the income from his rentals to reinvest in his enterprise. He now owns multiple pumps and continues to serve a growing number of farmers each week. Yet, demand still exceeds supply.
“With more pumps, we could irrigate 60 acres per week, but we don’t have enough yet,” he explained.
Without consistent access to affordable irrigation, some of his clients still resort to hiring generator-powered pumps—despite the higher cost. And for those not able to afford generators, they forego irrigation altogether, risking their season’s harvest. Ben’s business helps bridge this cost barrier, offering a lower-cost alternative and supporting farmers through the transition to irrigated farming.
A trusted advisor in the field
As his rental network expanded, Ben found himself doing more than just delivering pumps. Farmers began turning to him for practical advice on irrigation timing, soil health, and crop selection. To meet this growing need, he helped create a local agricultural hub—a collaborative space for unemployed youth with farming backgrounds to share knowledge and train others.
“We offer irrigation rentals, spraying services, and training on composting,” Ben said. “Farmers are adopting organic methods because conventional farming is damaging the soil.”
The hub currently includes 10 other KickStart-trained agents and serves around 50 farmers directly. It offers practical services like spraying, mulching, and composting guidance—empowering farmers to farm more sustainably and affordably.
Irrigation as a catalyst for change
In regions like Homa Bay, where droughts are common and rainfall is increasingly unpredictable, access to irrigation means more than just water—it means stability, income, and opportunity. Farmers who once grew just one crop a year are now planting multiple cycles, diversifying into more nutritious crops, harvesting vegetables during the dry season, and feeding their families year-round.
“Irrigation is transforming farming here,” Ben said. “Every week, we see more [people] wanting to start their own farms.”
The Rent to Try and Buy model helps make that shift possible. By allowing farmers to rent a pump before purchasing it, the model lowers financial barriers while enabling pump agents like Ben to build viable, service-based businesses.
A model worth scaling
Ben’s story shows what’s possible when irrigation tools are affordable, accessible, and delivered through trusted community networks. His work doesn’t just provide a pump—it unlocks a pathway to income, food security, and weather resilience for hundreds of farmers in Homa Bay.
As KickStart works to expand the R2T&B model across Kenya and beyond, stories like Ben’s illustrate how local leadership and practical tools can drive widespread, lasting change for farming families and communities.
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