FPT Industrial headed up a major event on 26 September themed ‘A new engine for sustainable farming’. In collaboration with FPT Industrial OEM Idrofoglia, a custom-built IPU (Irrigation Power Unit) system was designed and manufactured as part of a new water management project in Kenya. The advanced system was donated to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Nairobi, at this inaugural event.
The FPT Industrial water management project in Kenya has many sustainability targets, including the successful training and support of new entrepreneurs in the agriculture segment, and full technical collaboration with JKUAT. Around 40 fifth-year engineering students at JKUAT will begin courses and use the donated IPU system for training and education.
Federico Gaiazzi, Head of Global Marketing at FPT Industrial, said, “We are proud to support the project, ‘A new engine for sustainable agriculture’. It represents an opportunity for us to further affirm our values and our commitment to supporting training programs for young people and new generations.
“For this purpose, we decided to donate a complete product, consisting of a motor pump and the related irrigation system. We have chosen this IPU, equipped with an FPT F32 engine because it is a compact and flexible solution that offers high performance with low operating costs. Today, we give the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Nairobi an engine capable to contribute to a more sustainable future, drawing a unique opportunity to contribute concretely to promote the technological development of Kenya.”
The event ‘A new engine for sustainable farming’, involved corporate presentations by all the major stakeholders, including CNH Industrial, FPT Industrial, the Milan Center for Food Law and Policy (MCFLP), the E4Impact (Entrepreneurship 4 Impact) Foundation, and respective authorities. In addition, the event focused on the custom-built IPU, with a walk-around scheduled as part of the proceedings.
Comprehensive training sessions were also planned to take place between September and October, and included 40 hours of training provided by FPT Industrial, both in the field and in the classroom. Additional in-class training was delivered by the E4Impact Foundation and MCFLP.
E4Impact is an initiative launched in 2010 by ALTIS — the Graduate School of Business and Society at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) in Milan, Italy — with the objective of training entrepreneurs in the developing world to support the start up and growth of their businesses.
In Kenya and various other African countries, E4Impact offers an MBA in Global Business and Sustainability to provide active and aspiring entrepreneurs with results-oriented education, coaching and interaction with the local business community and access to potential investors.
MCFLP was first established in 2015. The association collects and stores legislative materials and documents regarding the right to food and nutrition, with the ultimate goal of raising awareness on these important issues.
Both E4Impact and MCFLP lay the foundations for future development, which is why they joined FPT Industrial’s water management project in Kenya. The successful cultivation and harvesting of crops on a reliable and repeat basis could experience a huge boost through the application of technology, such as irrigation systems. In combination with the right education and training, it is hoped that significant strides forward will be achieved.
IPUs from FPT Industrial are highly capable systems that comprise an engine, frame, subbase, industrial clutch, cooling package, starting battery, exhaust muffler and industrial power take-off unit. Also included is a fuel tank and connection for DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid – AdBlue), and an ATS system rack mounted to the top of the body panelling.
With regard to irrigation, the IPUs can be used in horizontal and vertical pump installations, as well as for center-line pivot systems. Further uses include systems that transfer water from rivers into deflooding channels and field drainage. Beyond stationary applications, FPT Industrial’s IPU technology also has many mobile uses in the agriculture sector, including for machinery such as sprayers and windrowers.
This partner content is brought to you by CNH Industrial. For more information, visit www.fptindustrial.com.
