Gov’t Launches Skeepon Technology to Combat Drought and Boost Agricultural Productivity

JINJA CITY, JULY 5, 2026 — The Government of Uganda has officially launched the nationwide roll-out of Skeepon Technology [SKP], an innovative climate-smart agricultural solution designed to enhance crop resilience against drought, erratic rainfall, and heat stress.

The technology was launched on Tuesday by the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, during the 2026 National Agricultural Show in Jinja City. Government reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating agricultural transformation through science, innovation, and technology.

The introduction of Skeepon comes at a time when Uganda is experiencing increasing climate variability, characterised by prolonged dry spells, rising temperatures, and unpredictable rainfall patterns that continue to threaten food security, household incomes, and national economic growth.

Speaking at the launch, the Prime Minister said Government remains committed to investing in practical innovations that address the real challenges facing farmers and support Uganda’s transition towards a resilient and commercially competitive agricultural sector.

“Climate change continues to pose one of the greatest threats to our agricultural sector. Government will continue supporting technologies that improve resilience, increase productivity, and enhance household incomes. Skeepon Technology is one such innovation that will enable our farmers to produce more despite increasingly unpredictable weather conditions,” she said.

The technology has been introduced through a partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), and Ac-Planta Inc., following extensive scientific evaluation and successful field trials conducted across Uganda.

Skeepon is a plant bio-stimulant that activates a plant’s natural drought and heat tolerance mechanisms. Once applied, it enables crops to continue growing under water stress and high temperatures for up to three months, while also improving overall plant health and productivity.

Field efficacy studies conducted by NARO over two cropping seasons recorded notable results, with maize yields increasing by more than 30 per cent and vegetable yields rising by over 45 per cent compared to untreated crops. Researchers also observed faster growth, improved plant vigour, and significantly greater tolerance to drought and heat stress.

The technology is intended to complement existing agricultural inputs such as irrigation, fertilisers, and improved seed varieties, while also offering benefits in rain-fed farming systems when used independently.

The Director General of NARO, Dr Yona Baguma, described Skeepon as a clear example of how agricultural research is delivering practical solutions to national development challenges.

“This innovation demonstrates the power of science in solving real problems facing our farmers. NARO’s mandate is to generate technologies that improve productivity, build resilience, and support agro-industrialisation. The positive results from our research give us confidence that Skeepon will significantly contribute to Uganda’s food security and economic transformation.”

The technology originated from Ac-Planta Inc. in Tokyo. Government collaboration with the company began after the Prime Minister met its founder during the Uganda–Japan Business Forum in December 2022.

Subsequently, MAAIF and NARO entered into a research collaboration agreement with Ac-Planta to validate the technology under Ugandan conditions prior to registration and deployment.

Beyond productivity gains, Skeepon is expected to reduce climate-related production risks, improve water-use efficiency, and strengthen Uganda’s agro-industrialisation agenda by ensuring a more reliable supply of quality raw materials for processors and exporters.

Government estimates that the technology could significantly improve farmer incomes through higher yields, improved crop quality, and reduced production losses.

At a cost of approximately Shs 12,000–27,000 per acre, Skeepon is positioned as an affordable climate adaptation solution with a strong return on investment.

The technology is already in commercial use in Japan, the United States, and South Korea, and has been successfully registered in the United States.

Government has also announced plans to explore local formulation and manufacturing of Skeepon as demand increases. This is expected to reduce import costs, create employment opportunities, stimulate private sector investment, and position Uganda as a regional hub for climate-smart agricultural inputs.

To ensure nationwide accessibility, NARO Holdings Limited will coordinate distribution through strategic partnerships with government agencies, extension services, farmer organisations, cooperatives, agro-input dealers, and private sector distributors. Farmer-friendly delivery models, including bundled input packages, input credit schemes, and agro-processor off-take arrangements, will also be introduced to support widespread adoption.

The launch responds directly to challenges identified during recent Parish Development Model assessment tours, where farmers consistently cited erratic weather patterns, limited irrigation infrastructure, low adoption of improved technologies, and declining productivity as major constraints.

Government has therefore called upon farmers, development partners, financial institutions, local governments, extension workers, and the private sector to support the national roll-out of Skeepon Technology and accelerate the adoption of climate-smart agricultural innovations.

The nationwide deployment of Skeepon is expected to contribute to the objectives of Uganda Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan [NDP IV], and the Parish Development Model, while strengthening food security, increasing agricultural exports, and building a more climate-resilient economy.

https://thecooperator.news/coffee-farmers-in-west-acholi-count-losses-as-drought-grips-region/

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