The Power for Food Project is promoting solar irrigation, cooling and drying technologies alongside regenerative farming to help Kayunga farmers cope with dry spells, reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access.
Farmers in Kayunga District are being encouraged to adopt regenerative agriculture and renewable energy technologies to improve productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen their resilience to prolonged dry spells.
The Advocacy Coalition for Sustainable Agriculture (ACSA), through its Power for Food Project, is promoting sustainable farming practices and the productive use of renewable energy to support year-round agricultural production and improve household livelihoods.
Speaking during a two-day workshop at Kyampisi in Kayunga Sub-county, programme manager Florence Nassuuna said prolonged dry spells and weak connections between farmers, markets and other agricultural stakeholders continued to undermine production.
“Because of the prolonged dry spells, there is a need to close the gaps affecting farmers. Farmers are often disconnected from markets and other actors in the agricultural value chain. We want to bring these stakeholders together so that farmers can continue producing and supplying the market even during the off-season,” Nassuuna said.
She urged farmers to adopt appropriate technologies and strengthen collaboration with service providers, buyers and government institutions to sustain production during periods when weather conditions are unfavourable.
Nassuuna said renewable energy could help farmers address some of the challenges associated with unpredictable weather while improving efficiency along agricultural value chains.
She encouraged farmers to consider solar-powered irrigation systems to support crop production during dry periods, solar drying facilities to preserve produce after harvesting, and solar cooling systems to extend the usability of perishable agricultural products.
She also highlighted the potential of biogas installations to provide alternative energy for cooking and lighting while making more efficient use of agricultural resources.
Nassuuna said the project would work to improve coordination between farmers, Kayunga District Local Government and development partners so that interventions respond to local needs.
“We want to improve coordination between farmers, the district local government and other partners because this is where many of the services and implementation activities take place. After training, farmers should be able to identify the services they need and link up with partners who can support them to acquire solar irrigation systems and other renewable energy technologies at subsidised costs,” she said.
She added that farmer training would remain central to the programme, with practical demonstrations, experience-sharing and farmer-to-farmer visits intended to help participants understand how to apply new technologies and improve their farming practices.
According to Nassuuna, equipping farmers with practical knowledge would help them make informed decisions about the technologies suited to their production challenges and identify available support services.
The project is also intended to strengthen links between farmers and service providers, potentially improving access to renewable energy technologies and other agricultural innovations.
Participants at the workshop welcomed the initiative and urged fellow farmers to apply the knowledge acquired to improve their farming enterprises. They said sustainable farming practices and renewable energy solutions could help address production challenges, improve the quality of agricultural produce and raise household incomes.
They also emphasised the need for continued training and cooperation among farmers, government agencies and development partners to ensure that the technologies are accessible and useful to farming communities.
The initiative comes as farmers face the challenge of maintaining production during dry spells while preserving harvested produce and connecting with markets.
Through the Power for Food Project, ACSA aims to promote the integration of regenerative agriculture and renewable energy in Kayunga, with the goal of improving agricultural productivity and strengthening farmers’ livelihoods.