Farmers decry limited access to affordable financing for solar agricultural technologies
Some of the farmers and other stakeholders attending the National dialogue on the Productive Use of Solar Energy (PUSE) in the Agricultural sector Value chain hosted by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) and Heifer International Uganda in Kampala on March13, 2025. PHOTO | SYLIVIA KATUSHABE
What you need to know:
- One of the farmers revealed that many of his colleagues are out of the national grid and are using generators as power sources which are expensive to run, and also produce emissions which pollute the environment
Farmers in Uganda have expressed frustration over the limited access to affordable financing, which they say is a major barrier to adopting solar agricultural technologies.
Mr Wilberforce Tugume, Manager of Kiboga Livestock Farmers' Cooperative society Ltd, shared his experience of trying to access a loan for smart farming agriculture.
"I tried and started applying for solar in Uganda Development Bank (UDB) in November 2013, until I gave up in 2024. After fulfilling all the requirements, which are bigger than those required for school, it takes a farmer years to get a loan or never get it at all," Mr Tugume said.
He advised banks to be transparent with clients about their ability to provide financing, rather than leaving them to waste time and money searching for a loan that may never be approved.
"We are worried, our business is gone because now your focus is on solar, and the generator is now getting old. You are not planning on getting a new generator because all your eyes are on solar and at the end of the day, you lose the generator and you don't get the solar," he emphasised.
Speaking during the National dialogue on the Productive Use of Solar Energy(PUSE) in the Agricultural sector Value chain hosted by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) and Heifer International Uganda in Kampala on March 13, 2025 another farmer, Mr Arthur Ataamba, Chairperson of the Greater Ngoma Union, echoed Mr Tugume's frustrations. "I request you to help us to do as you tell us. What you tell us is completely different from what is on the ground. Farmers are tired of being told to come today, tomorrow, sign here, sign there, bring this and that until they give up after spending a lot on transport and time," Mr Ataamba said.
Mr Onesmus Mugyenyi, Deputy Executive Director at the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), highlighted the importance of renewable energy in agriculture.
"Renewable energy is very important in agriculture because most farmers in this country are not on the national grid. Solar energy solves a number of problems, such as promoting sustainable agriculture because it is clean energy and replaces generators, reducing emissions."
Mr Mugyenyi also noted that solar energy promotes resilience among farmers, enabling them to produce throughout the year, increasing productivity, and improving their livelihoods.
The Commissioner for Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Mr Brian Isabirye, said that the government is supporting consumers and farmers through various initiatives, including the On-grid Connection Loan Programme.
"This programme provides affordable credit for consumers and suppliers of solar equipment. We are raising awareness about the available opportunities, so that consumers and farmers know the available channels, and suppliers know the opportunities that are intended to lower the upfront cost," Mr Isabirye said.
