A solar panel for Lion club farmers group in Madi Okollo district. Photo by George Buatre.

By George Buatre

West Nile

As climate change increasingly impacts Uganda's agricultural sector, farmers in West Nile are turning to solar-powered irrigation as a sustainable solution. This innovative approach not only mitigates climate-related challenges but also supports consistent crop production.

West Nile districts of Terego, Arua have been dominated by Tobacco farming and Madi- Okollo by massive deforestation of Natural tree species for charcoal, firewood, and timber for decades contributing to 85% according to a report (2018) by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

These activities provided livelihoods for the farmers in the areas but at a devastating environmental cost. Deforestation, climate change and seasonal variations have led to droughts resulting into significant loses for farmers.

Embracing Solar-Powered Irrigation
In a move towards sustainability, many farmers in these districts have started embracing solar powered irrigation in horticulture farming.

According to Lydia Okaa, Chairperson of the Lion Club Farmers Group supported by a German Organization in Madi-Okollo District, solar-powered irrigation is ideal for fighting climate change and ensuring proper crop production. "We have just started using solar-powered irrigation, and while we haven't seen significant benefits yet, we recognize its potential," she said.

Mrs. Okaa said, growing crops with solar-powered irrigation has a lot of benefits, but the only challenge they have is lack of trainings to correctly run this project, coupled with financial constraints emphasizing the importance of training and financial support for farmers. She appealed to farmers to adopt solar-powered irrigation for growing crops like tomatoes, eggplants, and cabbages.

Mr. Andruga Joram Andia, a member of the Lion Club Farmers Group, revealed that the use of solar powered irrigation in crop production promotes availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability of food supplies for farmers to meet their dietary needs.

Andia said, this innovative solution much as requires a farmer to be prepared and capital to start with, the farmer cannot regret due to its enormous benefits. “The use of solar-powered irrigation, if you are someone who is well-prepared and if you have some capital to start with it, you can come out of poverty because you will be growing crops throughout the year," he said. He revealed that they had just started this project, and they are optimistic that they shall get better proceeds with the quality of the crops in the garden.

Mr. Andia emphasized the potential of solar-powered irrigation to lift farmers out of poverty and appealed to the government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and other Development partners to support farmers to expand and sustain the already existing projects using solar powered irrigation system in the West Nile region.

Mr. Adiga Stephen, the Production Manager of the Olea Fish Farmers Group in Katrini Subcounty, Terego district who benefited from trainings on solar-powered irrigation systems in 2020 for his expertise in the usage of solar powered irrigation in agriculture by Palm corps a Local Non -Governmental organization operating in West Nile region called for farmers to adopt it.  

"Its high time farmers switch to solar-powered irrigation.  I benefited from trainings on solar-powered irrigation system by Grown Poverty and Palm Corps in Rigbo sub-county, Madi-Okollo District in 2020, and it's been transformative for our group.”

Olea Fish farmers group production manager in the tomato field inspecting
the growth progress. Photo by George Buatre.

Training and Capacity Building
Although some few organisations have trained farmers in the use of solar powered irrigation systems in crop farming in the region, these farmers have only been selected in few numbers leaving out many without the skills making them lack irrigation skills and face limited access to irrigation equipment.

Previous efforts to promote year-round production and access to irrigation equipment have focused on subsidizing systems for farmers but this has not yielded sustainable results as farmers end up with inappropriate equipment and have limited operation and maintenance skills.

In 2022, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) partnered with Danish Church Aid (DCA) to embark on a capacity building program for farmers in West Nile on the use of solar powered irrigation.
 
DCA mobilized over 200 farmers from mainly Arua and Terego districts, 50% of which were female farmers who participated in both theoretical classroom sessions and field practical sessions and most of these farmers have continued to offer capacity buildings to the farmers in various districts in West Nile. 
 
Partners Support and Initiatives
Mr. Pax Sakari, Executive Director of Rural Initiative for Community Empowerment (RICE) West Nile, emphasized the importance of preserving the environment through sustainable irrigation practices.
 
"With the depletion of our environment, you find you can't predict when the rain is going to come, when it will stop, when it will not come as such, as an organization, we raise funds with partners and make sure that we bring a module that should be able to answer the question of livelihood." said Sakari.

Sakari explained that they have offered an alternative to the farmers in the region especially the districts of Arua and Koboko by offering them a module water for production, very simple scheme that any other person can implement to preserve the environment as the organization's efforts to promote solar-powered irrigation.

Government Support and Initiatives
Nicolas Nunu, Senior Agricultural Engineer in Terego District, revealed that government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) with the help of the World Bank is undertaking Uganda Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers (U-GIFT) Project a Micro-Scale Irrigation project, funded by the World Bank in the district.

Nunu explained that the project started in 2020 in around 40 districts (phase 1) then in 2022, it was rolled out to another 95 districts (phase 2) and currently the project is in 135 districts in the country to increase agricultural productivity and incomes of Ugandan farmers through irrigation and climate resilient agricultural practices.

He said the project's focus on modern irrigation technology. "Under this co-funded project, the government is trying to encourage farmers to adopt modern irrigation technology which is the main component in the project with both the petrol and solar powered but government prefers solar powered irrigation system."

Currently, solar panels have been installed in several sites with completion rate of 95% under U-Gift project in Terego district in Odupi subcounty for 5 sites, 3 sites in Omugo Subcounty, 2 sites in Aivu subcounty, 1 site in Bileafe and Oriama sub counties respectively and at Anyiribu Primary school in Madi- Okollo district, Ewuata in Arua district all under the German Organization.