Uganda turns to solar power to cut farmers’ losses

What the report says

Uganda is expanding solar-powered equipment in agriculture as officials and development partners seek to reduce post-harvest losses and lower energy costs for farmers, according to The Observer. The effort is being led through the Distributed Renewable Energy Ecosystem Model, or DREEM Hub Project, a partnership involving the government and Heifer International that is targeting rural communities where grid electricity is unreliable or absent.

The report says the project is promoting solar systems for irrigation, milk chilling, food drying, storage and processing. That is especially important for dairy farmers and cooperatives, who may spend heavily on diesel generators or lose income when milk cannot be cooled quickly enough. In Kampala at the project’s annual conference, a Ministry of Energy official said the government is prioritizing off-grid options in areas beyond the national grid, including the cattle corridor.

Heifer International said reliable energy supports food security and rural livelihoods, while also helping farmers add value to raw produce. The article notes that the DREEM project has installed three solar milk-chilling systems and set up demonstration centres in Wakiso, Kampala and Luweero. It also says some cooperatives outside the grid face high energy costs, and that solar systems remain expensive for many small farmers despite financing support, tax exemptions and efforts to encourage local assembly.

More broadly, the piece places the initiative within Uganda’s wider electrification strategy, which includes grid expansion, mini-grids and standalone solar systems. The goal is not just household access, but energy that can directly support agricultural production and reduce spoilage.