Climate change continues to spread its fangs far and wide. Many areas in Uganda are indeed beginning to feel the pinch of the extreme weather conditions such as more severe and prolonged droughts. With a large agrarian economy, the option for many farmers is irrigation.

Yet this option isn’t readily available to the majority because many areas are not connected to the national electricity grid, while generator-based irrigation is prohibitive due to high costs of fuel. APTECH Africa identified solar water pumping as a viable solution to close the gap. In an effort to promote sustainable agriculture in these parts of the country, UNCDF is supporting APTECH Africa to distribute and install solar water pumps for farmers. For that purpose, UNCDF provided a grant, a two-year loan and technical assistance to APTECH to expand its activities. The loan disbursed in 2018 and now fully repaid created a first credit history that enabled APTECH to work with local banks on its financing needs.

In the month of June 2021, APTECH Africa successfully installed 10 surface solar water-pumping systems in the districts of Kamuli in the East and Lamwo in Northern Uganda. This project was organized under the Budaka Rice Growers Association. In partnership with a technology solutions company Mobipay, APTECH works with Budaka Rice Growers Association to help improve livelihoods and complete the farmers’ value chain. The beneficiaries of the 10 systems each cultivate an acre of rice and belong to an association of rice growers that comprises over 560 farmers.

The project is already registering some gains that could lead many farmers to adopt improved farming methods. Many farmers that have witnessed the bumper harvests of their colleagues who are already using irrigation are also waiting to install the solar water pumps as soon as they can afford to raise funds to make a down payment.

All the systems are on PAYG basis, meaning all the farmers are subscribed to at least one of APTECH’s periodic packages. They also receive regular training on good agronomical practices.