Semi-open (shade & net houses) technology
Partial cover, partial control — and the sensors that make the most of both.
A net house cuts sun, wind and insects but lets air through. It is cheaper than a greenhouse and cooler in the heat, but its climate still swings with the weather outside — which is exactly what monitoring is for.
About semi-open (shade & net houses) farming
Semi-open structures are popular in Kenya for capsicum, tomato, leafy greens, herbs, nursery seedlings and export vegetables. Shade nets (typically 30–50 % shade) reduce heat and sunscald; insect-proof nets keep out whitefly, thrips and moths that spread disease.
Because the walls breathe, conditions inside follow the weather with a dampened lag. Humidity can stay high in still, dense nets, and the fine mesh that keeps insects out also cuts airflow.
The technology stack
Semi-open (shade & net houses) technology, layer by layer
Microclimate
- Temperature & humidity sensorsInside and outside the net, so you see what the structure is actually doing for the crop.
- Misting / fogging controlEvaporative cooling on temperature and humidity, never on a clock.
- Motorised shade screensExtra shade only at the midday peak on the hottest days.
- Circulation fansBreak stagnant air in dense crops.
Water & nutrients
- Drip irrigation zonesSoil-moisture-driven, and aware of the rain that falls through the net.
- Fertigation with EC/pHLittle-and-often feeding through the drip.
Protection
- Crop cameras and ground drone scoutingCatch whitefly, thrips and mites that got past the net before they spread.
- Door and perimeter sensorsKnow when the house has been left open.
Target ranges
The numbers we keep semi-open (shade & net houses) inside
General ranges. Your crop, variety, altitude and agronomist set the final values.
| Factor | Target | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Shade level | typically 30–50 % | Crop- and altitude-dependent |
| Day temperature (fruiting crops) | 21–27 °C | — |
| Relative humidity | avoid long periods above ~85 % | — |
Questions
Semi-open (shade & net houses): FAQ
Net house or greenhouse?
A net house is cheaper and cooler in hot lowlands and keeps insects out; a greenhouse keeps rain off and gives full climate control. The right choice depends on crop, altitude, rainfall and budget — we will talk it through at the site visit.
Other farming environments
Start with a walk around your farm.
The first conversation is a site visit: we walk the farm with you and understand what you grow or keep and what is going wrong. No cost, no commitment. Buy outright, lease, or pay as you go by M-Pesa.