Women in a long time have always been involved in Agriculture. World Bank estimates that women make up between 42% and 65% of the agricultural labour force in the world (World Bank, 2014). Similarly, in many parts of the world today, including Kenya.

Women work in agriculture voluntarily as farmers on family farms and as paid labourers in other farms and agricultural enterprises. They also play a critical role in both crop and livestock production at subsistence and commercial levels. Women produce food and cash crops and manage mixed agricultural operations often involving crops, livestock and fish farming.

Women play a very significant role in agricultural production in Kenya. However, they are accorded little attention. The lack of inadequate information on the level of women participation in agricultural production has helped to underestimate their importance in agricultural production and hence led to their neglect in sector development.

Traditionally the women would till land so that she could feed her family. In case she had extra produce she would sell and make some income. The role in women in agriculture has grown, it is not the basic farming to feed her family unit but also to feed the community at large.

Now things have changed. Women are now informed about agricultural measures to take such as installation of greenhouses and drip systems so that they could make maximum yields and supply the produce to the local markets, supermarkets, schools and restaurants around them. Some of these women have even sought to make produce that fits the export market.

Illuminum Greenhouses has been privileged to work with 3 women groups that have taken up greenhouse farming and with our agronomic support they have been able to grow crops and sell to make profits.

The three groups include

1. The Ewan Kiror women group in West Pokot. Through funding from sponsors in America, they were able to install an 8M X 30M metallic greenhouse unit. They have been growing tomatoes but recently after the inception of COVID-19 they were able to change to capsicum for more profits. Through our agronomic support they have been able to ensure they get successful harvests.
2. Naela Women group in Emali. It has 14 members. The women in this group come from the maasai pastoralist community and agricultural farming has not been taken up. Through the support of a sponsor Andrea Stykette, they were able to install a greenhouse and have been farming tomatoes. They are now able to get profits from the tomato farming and these proceeds go to supporting their families.
3. Sauti ya wanawake in Taita Taveta. The group is made up of 21 members who started off as a self-help group but with the support of Action Aid, they were able to install a greenhouse and actively participate in food production for profits.

The resilience in these women groups is admirable. As much as they have been faced by challenges, they are able to quickly drop what is not working and follow advice given by our agronomist and do things that actually work. They have been able to grow high yielding crops such as capsicum that ensure that they have minimal cost of production and are able to fetch good profits

Through the efforts of women in agriculture, the younger generation especially children are able to appreciate agricultural practices and adopt them and this forms a sustainable solution in food production.

Through the effort of women in agriculture, lives have been improved. They are now able to make extra income that supports their families and educate their children.

Agriculture is crucial in all societies since it is the basis of food production. When women appreciate agriculture and take up roles, the society is improved and lives are changed.

At Illumimum Greenhouses, we always recommend planting of high value crops. A high value crop is either vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs or spices with higher market value than the traditional crops. The cost of production of these crops tend to be low and yet they attract a high price in the market especially due to their scarceness hence good profit margins are achieved.

In Kenya, high-value crops include capsicum, cucumbers, tomatoes, jalapenos, strawberries, herbs, and spices. These crops tend to fetch more income rather than the regular kales, spinach, and cabbage at the market.

Once you have installed a greenhouse, move out of the ordinary ‘Sukuma wiki’ farming and consider high valued crops and fetch more income. The return on your investment will be assured. Tomatoes for instance when planted in a greenhouse, has more profits because the cost of production is low and when they are supplied at the market, they have very good prices.

The traditional practice of farming in greenhouses in Kenya, is most farmers tend to go for the regular vegetables like spinach and kales which in most cases do not have a “good” price at the market that is profitable. The supply of these vegetables is high at the market therefore the prices tend to go down. Some consumers of these products don’t even have to go to the market to get these items but rather just plant them in their kitchen gardens.

A majority of the farmers normally ask the question “How am I able to identify which high value crop to plant in my greenhouse?”

With us at Illuminum Greenhouses, our inhouse agronomist is able to advice on the suitable high value crop based on a soil test that is normally performed to determine the level of nutrients in the soil and will walk the journey with the farmer to a successful harvest.

Another question that most farmers ask is, “Where will I get the market for these high value crops?”

At Illuminum, we provide a market linkage for farmers. We ensure all the products get a market. High value crops also tend to be on high demand due to their scarce nature. For instance, in a local village somewhere in central Kenya, there will be more people selling cabbage and Sukuma wiki rather than cucumber and strawberries. Therefore, the few people who have the cucumbers and strawberries are assured of a sale because there will be high demand of these products and a low supply that also translates to a high price of the product.

Another concern by most farmers is,” Where do I get the seeds of these high value crops?”

This is simple, through our partnerships with various companies that offer seeds and our inhouse agronomic support, the farmer is guided on where to get these seeds that will guarantee high yields. Not forgetting, we shall walk the journey with you to ensure a successful harvest.

A smart farmer does not just set up a greenhouse, but also plants high-value crops and get maximum profits. Be a smart farmer and you could be the next supplier of strawberries in your local supermarket and even the 3-star hotel in your neighborhood.

There are certain questions that pop up when considering a greenhouse: What are the benefits of having a greenhouse? Is it expensive? Could I make good use of it? Do I have the space? You will get the answer to these questions when you build a greenhouse as you will see that it offers numerous benefits that you will always be thankful for.

Here is why you need to farm using a greenhouse;

Increased production

As compared to open field farming, with a greenhouse the farmer has more control for creating the optimal climatic conditions needed for a plant to grow. The farmer is also able to grow more plants per square feet compared to growing crops in the open field. Greenhouse farming is considered an implementation of intensive agriculture and can provide an increase in crop production

Minimize production risks

A greenhouse is an enclosed space; therefore, the crops are prevented from suffering damage from climate change related events such as sudden increases or drops in temperature as well as keeping the crops away from birds and other animals that may damage them.

Maximize profits

When implementing greenhouse farming the profits per crop per square feet can be even twice as much as the alternative open field agriculture. A greenhouse farmer can combine other practices and strategies such as the use of hydroponics for maximum crop yield. By utilizing resources in a more efficient manner, the farmer is able to create less waste, which in turn can translate into bigger profits.

Increased pests and diseases control

A well designed and optimally built greenhouse can prevent problems such as pests and weeds, as well as provide more control against other diseases. An enclosed space can be restricted to only the necessary personnel, and less people going in and out means a lesser risk of bringing unwanted elements close to the crops.

Ability to grow all year round produce, even in off season

With a greenhouse, the farmer does not need to depend on seasons to grow certain crops. They just need to provide the necessary means to create the right climate inside the greenhouse for the crops they need to grow. A greenhouse is independent to the world outside therefore eliminates the limitation of growing crops only on a specific season.

More stability and security

Since the greenhouse farmer does not depend on climatic conditions, an increase in stability and security is assured not only for the crops but also for the workers. Greenhouses ensure we have that constant food supply and therefore world is free from hunger and poverty.

A greenhouse requires you to make an initial investment, but the money you spend is well worth it in the long run. With so many benefits, you can see why owning a greenhouse is a great idea.

At Illuminum greenhouses, we assure you of a return in your investment with our Greenhouse Plus+.

Greenhouse plus + comes as a package of a greenhouse of your choice, irrigation kits, water tanks, agronomic support, market linkage and your investment on installing a greenhouse is assured.

We also offer the Farmshiled A.I powered sensors that guide the greenhouse farmer on the next steps during farming such as when to irrigate, when to evacuate humidity and when to ventilate the greenhouse. We remove guesswork off greenhouse farming for the best crop yield.

We endeavor to hold your hand all the way to crop harvesting and we ensure you smile during harvesting.

Have you been wondering on when to irrigate, evacuate humidity and ventilate your greenhouse for that successful harvest? Worry no more, with Farmshield™-A.I powered sensors installed at your greenhouse, you will receive an alert on your mobile phone on the next steps to take to ensure your crops thrive without guesswork.

Here is how it works:

We install two stand alone sensors we call the Farmspears into the ground. The Farmspear houses the following sensors and equipment:

1. Soil moisture sensor
2. Soil temperature sensor
3. Air humidity sensor
4. Air temperature sensor
5. Light intensity sensor
6. Water flow meter to monitor irrigation
7. NPK nutrient sensor (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium)
8. Solar panel and battery

The Farmspears then collects data on the state of the greenhouse and sends it to the Farmshield. The Farmshield is the brain of the farm, it takes in the data, interprets it and informs on the necessary actions to take such as:

1. Opening and closing of the irrigation system to let water flow into the farm.
2. Actuating the greenhouse fans to evacuate humidity incase the humidity sensors report high humidity levels
3. Opening and closing of the greenhouse side ventilation if the air temperature sensors reports high temperature levels.
4. Timely alerts on low or high levels of NPK in the soil.

All the data collected is stored on an inbuilt memory and is sent to the cloud where is it analyzed and displayed on our dashboard. The dashboard displays real time information of your farm and is accessible by our app, web portal or USSD.

The dashboard is a complete system that manages your Farmshield device like placing orders for farm inputs, ordering trucks to collect your harvest to raising invoices for payment by customers. Some of our farmers call it, “the complete farming management portal”

With just a click, the farmer can access information on irrigation and fertigation cycles, harvest cycles and even payment cycles opening up other advantages to farmers such as financing from lenders due to evidence of farming experience and income.

A majority of farmers do not have access to internet, in this regard, we have a USSD platform that farmers simply dial on their phones and access all their farming information.

Being a smart farmer means taking in new technologies such as the Farmshield™-AI powered sensors and all your steps are assured for that successful harvest.

Be a smart farmer by partnering with us!