A groundbreaking solar-powered irrigation system project has been launched by the Danish Embassy in Uganda to benefit smallholder farmers in Uganda.
Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark under the Danida Green Business Partnerships Program, the project aims to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers against the adverse effects of climate change while fostering sustainable agricultural growth.
This initiative is spearheaded by a consortium of partners including the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) and Access2Innovation, are collaborating with commercial partners Grundfos and Akvo International to deliver impactful and scalable solutions for smallholder farmers.
Grundfos, in collaboration with Akvo, has generously donated this solar-powered irrigation system as part of their commitment to sustainable agricultural development.
On Friday, a solar-powered irrigation system was handed over to the Buganda Kingdom – Child Welfare and Adoption Society Farm in Ssango, Mawokota which is the second of three demonstration units under the project and follows the successful installation in Soroti and precedes the upcoming installation in Mubende.
Speaking at the handover event, Signe Winding Alberg, Danish Ambassador to Uganda underscored the significance of such partnerships in addressing climate adaptation challenges.
“Denmark has always been committed to promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices, and today’s handover exemplifies how technology and collaboration can drive transformative change,” she noted.
The ambassador said with increasing climate variability, smallholder farmers who contribute most agricultural output face growing challenges from erratic rainfall and prolonged droughts.
“This solar-powered irrigation system is designed to alleviate these challenges by enhancing productivity, ensuring food system sustainability, and reducing the vulnerability of farmers to climate shocks.”
According to the ambassador, the initiative leverages the extensive network of the Buganda Kingdom to raise awareness and accelerate the adoption of irrigation technologies across the region.
Patrick Luwaga Mugumbule, the Speaker of Buganda Kingdom parliament expressed pride in hosting this initiative and reaffirmed its dedication to supporting innovative solutions for smallholder farmers.
“This project is a testament to the power of partnerships in addressing the most pressing challenges facing our farmers. We are honored to contribute to the promotion of irrigation technologies that will undoubtedly transform livelihoods across the region,” Mugumbule said.
The host farmer Sister Sarah Naamaala, the director for Child Welfare and Adoption Society expressed immense gratitude for the installation.
“For smallholder farmers like me, access to consistent water supply has always been a challenge. This solar-powered irrigation system is a game-changer, providing a reliable solution that will help us adapt to climate challenges while increasing our productivity and income,” the farmer shared.
The East African Grain Council Country Manager for Uganda, Paul Ochuna said the three year project continues to demonstrate the critical role of innovative technologies in building a sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural sector, shining an example of how partnerships between the public sector, private enterprises, and local communities can yield transformative results, ensuring a more food-secure future for Uganda.
“At EAGC, we recognize that Uganda’s agriculture sector is the lifeline of millions of households yet, it is increasingly under threat from the impacts of climate variability. Unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, and shifting growing seasons continue to erode productivity and threaten food security. These challenges are particularly felt by smallholder farmers, who contribute the largest share of Uganda’s agricultural output but are often the most vulnerable,” Ochuna said.
“The solar-powered irrigation system is a beacon of hope as it provides a practical solution to the water management challenges facing farmers while showcasing the role of technology in driving agricultural transformation.”
The project will be funded to a tune of 10 million Danish krone which is approximately shs5 billion and will see over 1300 solar-powered irrigation systems given to farmers and in the end, between 30,000 and 50,000 smallholder farmers will benefit.
