agriculture 16 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Solar Irrigation Sparks Climate-Smart Agriculture Revolution in Karamoja
Solar-powered irrigation is transforming arid regions of Karamoja, enabling smallholder farmers to achieve food security, boost incomes, and transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled farming. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/farming/climate-smart-agriculture-solar-irrigation-transforms-karamoja-5461032
In the harsh climate of Karamoja, solar irrigation is heralding a new era of food security and economic prosperity. Farmers like Hellen Chepkrelo in Amudat district are now cultivating vegetables year-round, thanks to solar-powered water pumps.
Once reliant on food aid, residents now manage household gardens that provide sustenance and generate income. Chepkrelo reports earning between Shs40,000 and Shs100,000 daily from her produce, which helps cover household needs and school fees. Her husband, Michael Lotumel, notes that this climate-smart approach has fostered family unity and moved them away from past poverty.
Similar success stories are emerging in Moroto district, where farmer field groups utilize a central solar irrigation system. Rebecca Awok of the Nadingating Field Farmer Group explained how this technology has shifted their focus from nomadic pastoralism and casual labor to consistent agricultural production within their community.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation (TPO) since 1998, initially focused on psychosocial support. Recognizing the need for sustainable livelihoods, TPO expanded to introduce climate-smart agriculture practices, including organic pesticide and manure production, and promoting drought-resistant crops and tree planting.
TPO has trained over 2,100 farmers across five sub-counties in Amudat, empowering women, youth, and the elderly to transition to settled farming. The project emphasizes enterprise selection based on local potential and market demand, ensuring farmers can maximize their yields and income.
This shift not only combats food insecurity but also addresses long-standing issues like cattle rustling and nomadism, encouraging settled community life and peace. The provision of water points has also stabilized pastoralist communities, reducing the need for migration in search of water.