Solar-powered irrigation sparks agricultural transformation in eastern Uganda

________________

For years, farmers in eastern Uganda lived at the mercy of the sky, planting when clouds gathered and watching crops wither when rains failed.

Today, however, rows of vegetables thrive where dry spells once dominated. The secret is solar-powered irrigation schemes, which have freed communities from rain dependency and ushered in all-season farming.

Farmers now switch on pumps, extend pipes and rely on sunlight for a steady water flow. Stories of change abound.

In Ocelakwenyi village, Katakwi district, Silver Obatel, a farmer, recalls how crops used to dry up, until a solar-powered scheme changed everything.

Commissioned on October 21 by the Ministry of Water and Environment, the system pumps 36 cubic metres of water per hour, enough to irrigate five hectares daily.

Tonny Opio, a farmer in Tororo, echoes the transformation. Once reliant on yams from which he earned sh3m annually, he now produces tomatoes year-round, making over sh7m per season.

Another farmer, Patrick Owere in Tororo, recalls that in 2017 he sold his two bulls to clear a debt of sh2m. After joining an irrigation-supported group, he earned sh3.5m from his first harvest in 2024.

Sylvia Akello, a mother of two and a tomato farmer, recalls how difficult life was before she embraced irrigation.

Today, she waters her tomato garden with a switch and earns all year-round. Margret Onyango, a widow who had lost hope, now grows green pepper.

Her first season brought sh700,000, which helped her build a three-bedroom house.

In Luuka district, farmers like Patrick Mpiyanzibu and Shaban Kifuba have shifted from low-profit sugarcane to vegetables.

Owere testifies that, courtesy of irrigation, farmers’ lives have been transformed as they have since built permanent homes and bought cows.

Additionally, their children are attending good schools. Noel Muhangi, the head of public relations at the Ministry of Water and Environment, says irrigation is one of Uganda’s strongest engines of rural transformation. Across the districts of Katakwi, Tororo, Bukedea, Luuka and Kamuli, farmers once reliant on unpredictable rainfall now have year-round harvests, strengthening food security and reducing famine risk.

“Irrigation is helping households break free from subsistence farming,” Muhangi explains.

Consistent harvests mean consistent income. Farmers invest in livestock, expand acreage and diversify crops. Land values are rising, signalling rapid local development.

Year-round farming is also creating jobs for youth in farming, transport and produce markets. The ministry has deployed irrigation support officers to train farmers in seed selection, crop varieties, water management and soil conservation.

This technical guidance is boosting productivity in coffee, dairy fodder and high-value horticulture, creating a new class of rural commercial farmers ready to supply regional and international markets.

All schemes are powered by solar, ensuring reliable water access while shielding farmers from the growing effects of climate change.

Muhangi urges communities to take ownership of the schemes through proper maintenance and co-operation.