Rain hose Irrigation
Grekkon Limited is the commercial pioneer of rain hose irrigation kits in east Africa, and is the largest supplier and installer of rain hose systems in the region. This is done through the company’s 7 branches countrywide in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldore, Nyeri, Meru, and Nyahururu. Before installing a rain pipe irigation system in a farm, we conduct a site visit to assess:
- the water volume available
- crop acreage
- crop type
- land dimension
- farm topography and lay out
This is the information that guides us on the design of the irrigation system to set up. If the water volume for instance is low, we recommend a more water efficient method such as drip irrigation. Alternatively, we’ll advice on a water harvesting technique to increase the water volume
What is a rain hose irrigation system?
Rain hose systems are a new overhead way of watering crops intensely under moderate pressure. Each kit has a 100M long linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) pipe as the main accessory. The pipe is sequentially perforated at determined intervals using Nanotechnology to create tiny holes from which crops are irrigated. This technology ensures even water flow from every hole
What are the other components of a rain hose kit?
1. End-caps. They close the end of the pipe to prevent further water flow
2. Starter off-takes. They connect the rain pipe to the PVC or HDPE main line that supplies water to the rain hose from a water pump or highly elevated water tank
3. Pipe connectors. To connect one rain hose pipe to another
4. Mini valves. To control water flow to the rain hose pipe
The diameter of the pipe are; 25mm, 32mm, 40mm and 50mm. A grower chooses the preferred size based on crop water needs and area of irrigation. For instance, a farmer with 1 acre of the crop will comfortably water with the volume delivered through a 32mm rain hose pipe. Another grower with 5 acres will better irrigate with a 50mm rain hose pipe. An acre of crop uses 1,000 meters of 25mm, 800 meters of 32mm rain hose pipes, 600M of 40mm pipes, and 400M of 50mm pipes
What is the price of a rain hose irrigation kit?
Diameter size |
Flow rate per 100M | Price in KES |
32mm or 1″ | 13 cubic litres per hour | KES 2,600 |
40mm or 1-1/4” | 16 cubic litres per hour | KES 5,800 |
50mm to 1-1/2″ | 22 cubic litres per hour | KES 6,800 |
Rain hose irrigation system requirements
- The system requires a pressure head of 30M, and above
- When using a water pump to power the rain hose irrigation kit, the discharge rate should be from 45 cubic litres per hour
- The rate of water discharge is determined by the diameter size, and number of pores on the rain pipe. For instance, a rain pipe with 5 holes per cluster discharges less water than the one with 7 holes in a cluster
- It irrigates in opposite directions at a radius of 3M for the 32mm pipe, 5M for the 40mm pipe, and 7M for the 50mm pipe
- The vertical height of this water jet is 1M
How to assemble a rain hose irrigation system kit
1. Lay the mainline
This is the pipe delivering irrigation water to the farm from the pump. Your mainline will be larger in size than the rain hose pipe. So if your rain hose pipe is 1” for instance, use a 1.5” or 2″ main or sub mainline
2. Connect to the mainline
Make a 1” insertion on the mainline and attach the off-take connector. The size of the insertion is as per the size of your off-take
3. Hose connection
Attach the rain hose pipe to the off-take connector
4. Hose to hose connection
Use the connector to attach one rain hose to another
5. End cap
Insert the end cap at the end of the hose
This irrigation system is used in the following areas and on these crops
- Crop nurseries; vegetables, fruit trees, forestry
- Short vegetable crops (knee-high and below); cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, kales, spinach, collards, broad beans, carrot, strawberry, and others
- Pasture; grass and legumes
When choosing the crop to irrigate using this method, consider its susceptibility to foliage fungal infections predisposed by leaf surface wetness. Tomato, potato, peppers, peas, green beans, and chili easily succumb to foliage fungal infections when overhead or a rain hose system is used for a long time
Rain Hose Versus Drip Irrigation
- Rain pipes irrigate in an overhead fashion, drip lines irrigate to the root zone
- Drip tapes are water efficient, rain hose kits require large water volume
- Rain pipes have a higher pressure requirement than drip pipes
- Drip lines have emitters, while rain hose kits have pores done with nano technology
- The discharge rate for drip lines is 1.2 to 4 litres per hour per emitter, while the rain hose pore’s is from 7 litres per hour per emitter
- The cost of a drip kit installation per acre is from Kes 100,000, while the rain hose is from Kes 75,000
- The rain hose pipe’s minimum diameter is 25mm/ 3/4″, while drip tape’s is 8mm
Advantages Of A Rain Hose
- water saving and cost effective
- It is easy to install, use and maintain
- Ran hose nanotechnology punched holes are less prone to clogging
- It is used in a broad range of crops
- Rain hose pipes are light and easy to move about
- It irrigates uniformly
- It works under both low gravity and high water pump pressure
Grekkon limited is the largest supplier and installer of rain hose irrigation systems in Kenya, and in the east and central Africa region
Wish to know whether this technology can be used to irrigate a maize field of 6 acres hear in Rumuruti Laikipia county. Please advice urgently. Thank you.
Good morning Múchiri,
Yes, this rain hose kit can. Please share with us your number or reach us in our Nyahururu office on 0794 613 151 for details.
Best regards,
Customer Service
How much do i need interms of material and cash for me to irrigate an eighth of my land pliz give me budget
Where do i get the100m 1 inch rain hose kit here in eldoret and how much does it cost and who will help me install
Dear Kenneth,
You’ll find it in our store located at Kaburwo area, just after Eldoret polytechnic. Share your number or reach us on 0711 895 635.
Best regards,
Customer Service
I have four a acres with cabbages and would like to use your rain hose, how much will it cost fully installed.
Dear Daniel,
This is from Kes 200,000. Where is the farm located and when do you need it?
Best regards,
Customer Service
what the price of solar pump to irrigate 2acres , i need connect water from a river
Dear Jonathan,
Please specify the pumping height or depth.
Best regards,
Customer Service
What are the pressure and water volumes requirements for a 1inch pipe?
Kindly email a brochure if you have one
Regards
Dear Maina,
Your pressure requirement is from 30M head/ 2 bars. The water volume is from 30 cubic per hour
Best regards,
Customer Service
What is the practical advisable maximum running length for 32mm, 40mm and 50mm; while using a high pressure pump?
I want to use that, to estimate the main lines and sub-mains, before purchasing the hoses.
How can those items get to Kampala, Uganda?
Thanks
Ruben Musanyana
Irrigation Engineer
Kampala, Uganda
Dear Reuben,
Our Eldoret technical team will send you an email with details. Thank you for your inquiry.
Best regards,
Customer Service
Hello.
How would one get one 50mm 1½” 100m in Nyeri.
Regards
Dear Dern,
Yes you will. Ease share your contact or reach us in Nyeri on 0735 962 626.
Best regards,
Customer Service
How much will it cost to install the rain hose irrigation system on a 3 acre piece of land( for vegetables)? And do you operate in coast?
Dear Juliet,
Thank you for your enquiry. This will cost from Kes 170,000 over 3 acres. Yes we do operate at the coast. Where are you located and when do you need it installed?
Best regards,
Customer Service
I have a 2″ lay flat flexible pipe delivery. Am interested in the rain horse to irrigate soy beans and beans urgently. I like the 1½” size how much will it cost me? How long does it take to make the soil wet? Thank you.