Nakaseke dairy farmers embrace solar irrigation to beat drought, boost milk production
LUWERO, July 7, 2026 — Dairy farmers in Nakaseke district are increasingly embracing solar-powered irrigation systems to sustain fodder production, increase milk yields and cushion themselves against the effects of climate change.
The growing adoption of renewable energy is transforming dairy farming in the district, with farmers using solar-powered technologies not only to pump water and cool milk but also to irrigate pasture throughout the year, ensuring uninterrupted production even during prolonged dry spells.
The transformation was highlighted during a recent stakeholders’ meeting organised by Heifer International Uganda at St. Paul’s Hotel in Luweero. The meeting brought together project implementers, district leaders, dairy cooperative representatives and farmers to assess the impact of renewable energy technologies on dairy farming and climate resilience.
Through the Distributed Renewable Energy Ecosystem Model [DREEM] initiative, Heifer International Uganda is supporting farmers to integrate solar energy across the dairy value chain, helping them maintain production despite increasingly erratic weather conditions.
Funded by the Mott Foundation and implemented in partnership with Enterprise Uganda and the Joint Energy and Environment Projects [JEEP], the initiative aims to expand access to renewable energy in agriculture while improving rural livelihoods.
Ronald Wabwiire, Signature Programme Technical Lead at Heifer International Uganda, said the DREEM initiative was designed as a collaborative ecosystem that brings together local governments, financial institutions and development partners to accelerate the adoption of solar technologies.
He said one of the project’s key interventions has been the solarisation of milk collection centres owned by dairy cooperatives, replacing costly diesel-powered generators with solar-powered milk chilling systems.
“The impact has been significant. Farmers who previously spent between Shs 3 million and Shs 5 million every month on diesel have reduced those costs by more than 80 per cent after adopting solar energy,” Wabwiire said.
Beyond milk chilling, the project has expanded to support solar-powered water pumping for livestock, pasture irrigation, fodder chopping machines, milking equipment and household refrigeration.
Under a blended financing model implemented in partnership with Stanbic Bank, the project combines grant funding with farmer contributions, making renewable energy technologies more affordable for smallholder farmers.
According to Wabwiire, the three-year project, which has one year remaining, has so far supported four dairy cooperatives in Nakaseke district; such as Kariagoro, Ligami, Nyakarongo and Kijumba.
Milk collection at the supported centres has increased by more than 70 per cent, with some cooperatives growing from about 2,000 litres per day to more than 3,000 litres. Membership has also expanded significantly, with some cooperatives increasing from about 70 members to more than 200.
In addition to infrastructure, the project is strengthening cooperative governance and financial management through Enterprise Uganda, while exchange visits and field demonstrations are helping farmers adopt climate-smart farming practices.
For Karuhanga Bendicto, a farmer from Kyabavuri Village in Kinoni Sub-county, the impact has been life-changing.
Using a solar-powered water pump, he irrigates pasture from a nearby dam, ensuring a steady supply of fodder throughout the year and maintaining milk production even during extended dry seasons.
“Before, each cow would produce only two to three litres of milk a day. Now, I get between five and seven litres, and some cows produce up to 10 litres,” he said.
His total daily milk production has increased from about 50 litres to between 150 and 200 litres, significantly boosting household income while creating employment for at least 10 young people on the farm.
Karuhanga also uses solar-powered refrigeration to preserve milk before delivering it to Nyakarongo Dairy Farmers Association, reducing post-harvest losses and improving milk quality.
Nakaseke District Chairperson Ignatius Kome Kiwanuka said the project demonstrates how renewable energy can transform agriculture in one of Uganda’s driest regions.
He commended Heifer International Uganda for introducing solar-powered technologies that are enabling farmers to increase productivity through reliable, clean energy.
According to Kiwanuka, the technologies are helping farmers pump water for livestock, irrigate pasture, cool milk, operate grass-cutting equipment and power their homes, reducing dependence on costly fossil fuels.
However, he said changing farmers’ mindsets remains a challenge.
“Many farmers are still relying on traditional methods despite the availability of modern technologies,” he said, calling for increased sensitisation and training.
Kiwanuka also urged the government to reduce taxes on solar equipment to make the technologies more affordable, arguing that wider adoption would accelerate climate-smart agriculture while protecting the environment.
The benefits are equally evident at the cooperative level.
Steven, chairperson of Migani Dairy Cooperative in Nakaseke Subcounty, said the installation of a solar-powered milk chilling system has transformed the cooperative’s operations by cutting fuel costs and improving milk quality.
Previously, the cooperative’s 5,000-litre milk cooler relied on a diesel generator, limiting daily milk collection to between 2,000 and 2,500 litres because of high fuel costs.
“After installing the solar-powered system, we are now chilling between 4,500 and 5,000 litres of milk every day,” he said.
He explained that frequent generator breakdowns previously resulted in poor milk quality and financial losses.
“When the generator failed, buyers such as Jesa Farm Dairy would lower the price or reject the milk altogether. Instead of earning about Shs1,200 per litre, we sometimes received only Shs800,” he said.
The solar-powered system has eliminated these challenges, improved milk quality and enabled the cooperative to access better-paying markets.
Steven added that the equipment was acquired through a blended financing arrangement under which Heifer International Uganda covered the larger share of the cost while the cooperative pays the balance through structured repayments.
As climate change continues to threaten agricultural production across Uganda’s cattle corridor, solar-powered irrigation and other renewable energy technologies are emerging as practical solutions.
For dairy farmers in Nakaseke, the transition is about more than embracing new technology. It is helping secure livelihoods, increase productivity and build resilience against an increasingly unpredictable climate.
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