SENEGAL – InfraCo Africa, an investment company and part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), has signed a Shareholders’ Agreement and a Loan Agreement with Bonergie Irrigation SAS to continue supporting the scale-up access to solar-powered irrigation solutions in Senegal.
Under the new agreements, InfraCo Africa will hold a large minority shareholding in Bonergie Irrigation, committing an additional US$2.4 million to scale up farmers’ access to solar-powered irrigation solutions in Senegal.
“We are excited to continue working with our partners at Bonergie Irrigation to substantially scale up our offering to farmers in Senegal.
“Access to solar-powered irrigation systems will replace existing diesel pumps, providing farmers with a more sustainable solution to addressing the linked challenges of climate change and food security,” InfraCo Africa CEO, Gilles Vaes said.
The agreement will see the commissioning, sale, installation and maintenance of at least 2,000 further pumps over the next three years.
In response to feedback from the pilot, the project will also roll out over 500 drip irrigation systems, which Bonergie says are designed to optimise the efficiency of irrigation whilst also protecting groundwater sources from over-abstraction. The systems come in a range of sizes with hire purchase financing available to spread the cost.
“Bonergie Irrigation SAS is very proud that InfraCo Africa has decided to develop a close partnership with us as a shareholder. Their tremendous experience will help us to supply a minimum of 2,000 pumps and 500 drip irrigation systems to rural farmers in a sustainable way,” CEO of Bonergie Irrigation SAS, Gabriele Schwarz said.
“The nexus of Water-Energy-Food is one of the main topics for the coming years and Bonergie Irrigation SAS and InfraCo Africa are in a perfect position to develop this market in Senegal.”
It is anticipated that Phase II of the Bonergie Irrigation project will be completed by the end of 2023 with InfraCo Africa continuing to support the project as a shareholder.
Meanwhile in Kenya, the government has commissioned the Ksh. 280 million (US$2.5m) irrigation project in Murang’a County, expected to support 3,000 farmers.
The project once completed will support horticulture and vegetables farming in the parts of the constituency which currently relies on rain-fed farming.
It will be implemented by the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) and is set to cover more than 700 acres.
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