The Danish embassy in Uganda has officially launched a three-year project aimed at enhancing irrigation systems to improve adaptation and sustain smallholder farming production systems in the country.
The project, funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the tune of 10 million Danish krone (approximately shs5 billion), will be implemented by the East African Grain Council in collaboration with Access2Innovation, Grundfos, and Akvo International.
“Uganda faces increasing climate variability, with significant impact on agricultural productivity,” said Signe Winding Alberg, the Danish Ambassador to Uganda. “The sector employs over 70% of Ugandans, many as smallholder farmers. And it contributes immensely to the national income of the country. The smallholder farmers, who contribute the majority of agricultural output, are particularly vulnerable to the increasing impacts of climate change and variability.”
The project will provide solar-powered irrigation systems to farmers, as well as training on adopting climate adaptation practices.
“The solar-powered irrigation solution is climate smart as it uses drip irrigation technology, which is water efficient, and a soil conservation practice contributing to climate change adaptation among farmers,” Ambassador Alberg added.
Paul Ochuna, the East African Grain Council Country Manager for Uganda, noted that the project aligns with their mandate to promote structured trade, improve market access, and support innovations that empower smallholder farmers across Eastern Africa.
“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,” Ochuna said. “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.”
Patrick Luwaga Mugumbule, the Speaker of Buganda Lukiiko (Parliament), who represented the Katikkiro, expressed pride in hosting the 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,” Mugumbule said. “We are honored to contribute to the promotion of irrigation technologies that will undoubtedly transform livelihoods across the region.”
Sister Maria Sarah Naamala, the Executive Director of Child Welfare and Adoption Society, who is also the host farmer, expressed immense gratitude for the installation.
“For smallholder farmers like me, access to consistent water supply has always been a challenge,” Naamala said. “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.”
Victor Kazimiri, the CEO of Akvo International, said that over 1,300 solar-powered irrigation systems will be handed over to farmers around the country as part of the three-year project.
“These systems will have a ripple effect of benefiting between 30,000 to 50,000 smallholder farmers,” Kazimiri said.
