In Uganda’s West Nile region, where long dry spells often impede agriculture, access to energy is proving to be the difference between subsistence and success. 

Under the SUSTAINED Project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN), Oxfam, Mercy Corps, and Care are championing the productive use of renewable energy to ensure that clean energy solutions like solar-powered irrigation are not just accessible, but directly improving incomes and livelihoods.

For Alipaga Manisuru, a 34-year-old farmer from Yumbe District, this shift has been life-changing.

Alipaga’s journey into agriculture began when he rented a one-acre plot in Jemo Village, where he started growing vegetables to support his wife and two children.

His efforts though were often limited by the lack of water. “I depended entirely on the rainy season, and during dry periods, I had to fetch water using a watering can which was exhausting, time-consuming, and still brought in low yields.”

For Alipaga, the situation changed when he was introduced to a solar-powered irrigation pump through the SUSTAINED project's PUE model. While he couldn’t afford the upfront costs of the solar pump, with support from Vision Fund, a financial company working under the project, Alipaga was able to access a loan, which enabled him to acquire a solar pump to support him in irrigating his farm and boosting production. 

He was able to repay the loan in manageable instalments within just four months.

“I received the pump in April 2025 and completed the loan repayment by August 2025. It allowed me to continue farming without interruption.”

Today Alipaga uses the pump to irrigate his crops throughout the year which has reduced reliance on rainfall and reduced labour demands. 

As a result, Alipaga’s harvests have also improved from 40 basins before he got the Solar pump to over 100 basins of vegetables, with the solar-powered irrigation pump also enabling him to carry out year-round farming even during the dry season.

This has given him a competitive edge since he consistently produces vegetables and maintains a stable harvest, which helps him meet market demand and sell off-season in times of scarcity when the prices are higher. 

“Recently, customers from Yumbe town bought eight basins of tomatoes for UGX 400,000,” he shares.

By converting solar energy directly into agricultural productivity, Alipaga has unlocked a consistent and scalable income stream. From his harvests, he has already earned UGX 9,000,000 and with increased income, he has invested in two plots of land, secured school fees for his children, and strengthened his household’s financial stability. 

His farm has also become a source of employment, supporting two hired workers alongside his wife.

“I don’t think about looking for a job anymore. Farming is better than employment,” he says confidently.

Looking ahead, Alipaga plans to deepen his use of energy for productivity by procuring a deep freezer to preserve produce, reducing post-harvest losses, and expanding into produce trading. His vision includes building residential and rental properties, further diversifying his income.