In the article below, we sit down with 2019 Top 20 hero, Samir Ibrahim, as he shares his journey of founding and leading SunCulture in its mission to transform smallholder farming. Samir discusses how SunCulture leverages innovative technologies, such as IoT-enabled solar irrigation systems, to address critical challenges like food insecurity, climate change, and farmer poverty. Through strategic initiatives, including Pay-As-You-Grow financing and carbon credits, SunCulture has made solar-powered solutions more accessible, driving adoption and fostering sustainable growth across sub-Saharan Africa.
- What inspired you to start SunCulture, and how has your vision for the company evolved since its founding?
SunCulture was founded out of a passion to address systemic challenges like food insecurity, climate change, and farmer poverty, recognizing the potential of smallholder farmers as key drivers of global food production. Initially, the focus was on proving our technology and business model. Over time, this vision has evolved to emphasize scaling innovative, integrated solutions, such as affordable financing and agronomic support, to drive widespread adoption and transformation in smallholder farming.
- Your recent fundraising - $27.5 million Series B round. Could you share insights on how these strategic partnerships with investors like InfraCo Africa, Acumen Funds, and others will shape SunCulture’s growth trajectory?
This funding bolsters our mission to scale affordable solar irrigation systems and ancillary services across sub-Saharan Africa. Strategic partnerships with impact-driven investors provide not only financial resources but also critical expertise and market insights, enabling us to expand our reach, enhance product offerings, and sustainably empower smallholder farmers.
- SunCulture has used carbon credits to subsidize costs for farmers. How has this financing model impacted adoption rates, and do you see it being scalable in the long term?
By leveraging carbon credits, SunCulture has successfully lowered upfront costs, making solar irrigation more accessible and driving adoption among smallholder farmers. This model, linked to measurable carbon emission reductions from replacing diesel pumps, has proven scalable as the global climate financing landscape continues to expand. It offers a dual benefit of affordability and environmental impact, creating a sustainable pathway for growth.
- Only 4% of small-scale African farmers currently have access to irrigation. What are the key challenges SunCulture faces in scaling up solar-powered irrigation solutions to address this gap?
Key challenges include limited access to financing, inadequate infrastructure, and low awareness among farmers about solar irrigation’s benefits. To address these, SunCulture employs innovative financing models, such as Pay-As-You-Grow, alongside robust distribution networks and localized education initiatives. These efforts aim to bridge the affordability gap while scaling impact across the continent.
- Your solutions are IoT-enabled. How has integrating IoT into your solar irrigation systems improved outcomes for farmers?
Our IoT systems power the metering systems that allow us to sell pumps affordably on loan to low-income rural African smallholder farmers. IoT integration enables farmers to monitor water usage providing them with data-driven insights to optimize irrigation schedules and reduce waste. This technology has significantly improved crop yields, resource efficiency, and farmers' financial resilience, transforming agricultural practices into more sustainable operations.
- SunCulture currently operates in several countries and has distribution agreements in others. What is your strategy for scaling operations across sub-Saharan Africa while maintaining affordability for smallholder farmers?
SunCulture’s scaling strategy includes decentralizing operations via regional hubs, partnering with local distributors, and leveraging Pay-As-You-Grow financing to ensure affordability. These approaches, combined with targeted marketing and strong after-sales support, enable sustainable expansion while keeping products accessible to smallholder farmers.
- Beyond solar irrigation, SunCulture is exploring services like soil testing and insurance. How do these additional services align with your mission of improving smallholder farmers’ productivity and resilience?
Services like soil testing and insurance complement our solar irrigation solutions by addressing critical gaps in the agricultural value chain. These offerings increase productivity, reduce risks, and align with our mission to empower farmers with tools and knowledge to build sustainable, profitable livelihoods.
- Solar irrigation not only boosts agricultural productivity but also reduces reliance on polluting fuels. Could you elaborate on SunCulture’s contribution to combating climate change and promoting sustainable farming practices?
SunCulture replaces diesel pumps with solar-powered irrigation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving water efficiency. This enables year-round farming, protects against drought, and adapts to increasingly erratic weather patterns. By promoting sustainable practices, SunCulture contributes to both climate change mitigation and climate adaptation, enhancing food security in vulnerable regions.
- As a climate tech entrepreneur, what have been the most significant challenges in bringing your solutions to market, and how have you overcome them?
Significant challenges include skepticism toward new technologies, limited financing options for farmers, and logistical hurdles in distribution. We have addressed these by designing farmer-centric solutions, launching our Pay-As-You-Grow financing, and building efficient, scalable supply chains to ensure timely delivery and support.
- With a goal of installing 274,000 solar irrigation systems in Kenya and reaching hundreds of thousands of farmers by 2030, what are your top priorities for achieving this ambitious vision?
Our top priorities focus on making solar irrigation systems affordable for farmers. This includes scaling Pay-As-You-Grow financing to ease the financial burden, expanding regional hubs to increase accessibility, and improving after-sales service to ensure ongoing satisfaction. We believe that achieving affordability is key to widespread adoption, which is why we will also invest in R&D to reduce costs and collaborate with governments and development agencies to create sustainable, cost-effective solutions for farmers.
