In the sunny village of Kapeeka, locatedin the Nakaseke District of Central Uganda, the determined farmer, Joshua Lubega, embarked on a journey to transform his agricultural practices. On his three acre farm, Joshua intercropped coffee with banana to provide some shade and mulching in a bid to counteract the increasingly dry weather. Recognizing the enormous potential of Uganda’s coffee sector – which employs over 500,000 smallholder farmers and stands as the country’s second-largest export product – Joshua aimed to seize the opportunity presented by the growing demand for Ugandan coffee. In order to expand his production and contribute to the growing export market, he needed to address a significant problem: the inefficient and unreliable irrigation of his crops.
Tulima Solar’s solar irrigation pumps reduce hardship for farmers
Joshua’s farm manager, Samson at the farm with the Arabica coffee plants.
For years, Joshua had employed casual laborers to manually water his young coffee plants, a labor-intensive task that involved hauling water in 50 and 70-liter cannisters from a nearby marsh. Not only was this method time-consuming and inefficient, but also the water sourced from the marsh was unsuitable for household consumption due to its impurities. The irrigation process was a hindrance to the frequency of watering and an increasing financial burden for Joshua, as labor costs continued to rise. During periods of extreme drought and low water levels in the marsh, Joshua suffered significant setbacks. The irrigation process became even slower and more laborious, resulting in an alarming 10% loss of his coffee crop. The prospect of committing an additional 14 acres of land to coffee cultivation seemed risky and uncertain, as evidenced by his neighbor’s devastating experience losing 80% of his coffee seedlings to the relentless dry weather.
But when a friend recommended Tulima Solar’s revolutionary solar water pump innovation, his fortune changed. Joshua decided to visit Tulima’s offices to discover more about the product that could potentially address his irrigation challenges. What captivated Joshua is Tulima’s user-specific approach to solar water pumps, offering tailor-made solutions that meet the unique requirements of individual farmers and their specific agricultural enterprises. Additionally, Tulima’s flexible pay-as-you-go financing options provide a lifeline to farmers like Joshua, ensuring access to this cutting-edge technology, and that the solar water pump’s maintenance is taken care of by Tulima’s experts – freeing Joshua from the responsibility and allowing him to concentrate on farming.
Tulima Solar’s solar irrigation pumps reduce hardship for farmers
Joshua’s farm manager, Samson at the farm next to the solar panel array.
In December 2022, Joshua decided to invest in a Tulima solar water pump. He ensured the availability of a consistent water supply by sinking an 80-meter well, guaranteeing year-round access to this vital resource. A timely installation allowed Joshua to face the approaching dry weather with confidence. When January 2023 arrived, he enthusiastically planted an additional seven acres of coffee plants, encouraged by the certainty of an ample water supply. The introduction of a solar water pump not only reduced irrigation-associated labor costs by UGX 200,000 (about $51 USD), but also had a transformative impact on Joshua’s coffee plants. The use of clean water from the solar pump has led to healthier and more vibrant crops, improving the quality of the yield and increasing his profitability.
Joshua Lubega’s story is an inspiring testament to the impact of WE4F’s support for renewable energy innovations, such as solar water pumps, on agricultural communities. Through innovation and the resilience of farmers like Joshua, agricultural productivity can be enhanced, boosting income for smallholder farmers in Uganda.
Contact
For more information about supported innovators, please have a look at the East Africa Hub Subpage or contact lucie.pluschke@giz.de (Regional Innovation Hub Manger) or kilian.blumenthal@giz.de (Technical Advisor).
