‘Rent to Try & Buy’: How farmers are driving change with flexible irrigation

For most smallholder farmers in Africa, rainfall remains the only available source of irrigation. When the rains arrive late—or not at all—harvests fail, incomes drop, and food supplies dwindle. About 70% of African farmers still depend entirely on rain-fed agriculture, leaving them exposed to increasingly unpredictable weather and prolonged dry spells.

Irrigation has the power to change that. With a reliable water source, farmers can grow high-value crops year-round, increase yields, and improve food security. Yet even when the benefits are clear, the upfront cost of irrigation equipment can put it out of reach for many. In Uganda, for example, the average coffee farmer earns between $435 and $797 per year—making the price of a quality pump as much as one-eighth to one-quarter of their annual income.

That’s why KickStart International created the Rent to Try & Buy (R2T&B) model—a flexible, farmer-centered solution that allows smallholders to rent a MoneyMaker irrigation pump, use it to increase their harvest and earnings, and later decide whether to purchase it.

Reducing risk, expanding access

Launched in 2023, the R2T&B model is designed to reduce financial risk and build trust in irrigation. Instead of committing to a full purchase, farmers rent a pump at a low daily rate. During that time, they can test it in real conditions and see the return for themselves.

Some farmers earn enough in a single season to fully cover the cost of the pump and choose to invest. Others rent in response to specific needs—such as a dry spell or mid-season drought—using irrigation as a short-term safety net to protect their crops. The R2T&B model offers flexible, demand-driven access for farmers who want to irrigate without long-term financial obligations. For those who choose to buy, the rental fees count toward the final purchase price.

Delivered through trusted local agents

The R2T&B model is delivered through trained irrigation agents, many of whom are farmers or young entrepreneurs. These agents rent out pumps in their communities, earning income with each transaction. In doing so, they build sustainable enterprises that also expand access to irrigation.

As agents grow their customer base, they often offer practical guidance on crop timing, pump use, and water access. This local delivery model not only creates jobs but also strengthens community-level knowledge and trust.

To support continued growth, KickStart is currently testing several agent pathways: recruiting recent agriculture graduates, partnering with independent farmers with strong community ties, and working through cooperatives where agents already have access to a network of potential clients. KickStart is also piloting two financing approaches. In one, agents take seasonal loans to purchase pumps and rent them out directly. In the other, they rent pumps from local retailers, then rent onward to farmers—earning commissions while also bundling products like seeds and fertilizer. These tests aim to identify scalable, sustainable approaches that create income for agents while expanding irrigation access for farmers.

Partnering to support youth agribusiness

As part of its scale-up strategy, KickStart is partnering with The Adventure Project to train and equip new irrigation agents—many of them young people starting their own agri-businesses. The partnership recently supported the launch of 30 new youth-led irrigation businesses in Kenya. These agents rent out MoneyMaker pumps, deliver on-farm support, and help farmers transition from rain-fed to irrigated agriculture.

One such agent, Ben Blasto, began with a single pump in Homa Bay County. Initially renting it out to nearby farmers, he expanded his business over time—serving more than 200 clients and offering basic extension services.

“We offer irrigation rentals, spraying services, and training on composting,” Ben said. “Farmers are adopting organic methods because conventional farming is damaging the soil.”

A stepping stone to ownership—and resilience

A rented pump allows smallholder farmers to grow during the dry season, produce off-season crops, and take advantage of higher market prices. For some, R2T&B creates a path to ownership—enabling them to test the pump, build income, and invest when they’re ready. For others, it offers short-term, low-risk access to irrigation without the burden of a large upfront cost. In a time of weather volatility and income uncertainty, this kind of flexibility helps farmers make smarter decisions about when and how to irrigate.

It’s also fueling the growth of rural irrigation ecosystems. As water pump adoption grows, so does demand for irrigation agents, spare parts, and agro-dealers—creating jobs and supporting local economies.

Looking ahead

KickStart is actively expanding the R2T&B model into new markets. A collaboration with CARE International, for example, integrated the model with village savings and loan associations in Kenya and Zambia, enabling farmers to access irrigation on credit while creating new income streams for agents.

Planned improvements to the model include enhanced agent training, new rental hubs, and tailored pricing structures to meet the needs of different regions and farming contexts.

Make irrigation more accessible

This June, your gift will go twice as far. A generous match will double your impact—helping more farmers rent, try, and buy the tools they need to grow. >> Donate now!