The Ministry of Agriculture assistant commissioner in charge of irrigation and drainage has said it will be difficult for Uganda to transform its agriculture through solar energy due to cost-related challenges.

Speaking on the sidelines of the first solar exhibition organised by Uganda Solar Energy Association, Mr Dominic Mucunguzi, the Ministry of Agriculture assistant commissioner for irrigation and drainage, said the cost of solar energy remains high, which will make it difficult to achieve a transformed agricultural sector by 2040.

“With [current] high cost, projections that solar energy can transform the agriculture sector right from production, manufacturing, and cooling by 2040 cannot be achieved,” he said without giving more details.

Government plans to enhance uptake of solar as a way of transforming agriculture, especially in rural areas.

Last year, government, through Nexus Green, said it was on track to complete the construction of 400 solar-powered water irrigation sites in northern and eastern Uganda, through a design, supply, and instal $90m (Shs331b) project to enhance agricultural prosperity and improve livelihoods of 25,000 Ugandans in water-stressed districts.

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