Off-Grid Renewable Energy in Agriculture

Renewable energy in agricultural production can be a useful way of responding to the increasing energy demand of the sector as well as a means for promoting social and environmental sustainability. STEP CHANGE will develop knowledge about the impact of renewable energy technology for productive use in rural Uganda via a citizen science approach. Citizen scientists selected from farmers of six agricultural cooperatives and interested community members, will participate in the initiative.

In Kyankwanzi, Kiboga and Luwero districts, agricultural cooperatives have been trained and mobilised to use renewable energy technologies.

Their impact, notably when it comes to environment, individual and community autonomy, fighting corruption, knowledge transfer, and improved skills for economic benefit, will be investigated. Based on this analysis, it will be explored to what extent the adoption of renewable energy in agricultural production can be a useful way of responding to the increasing energy demand of the sector as well as a vehicle to promote social and environmental sustainability.

Building on lessons learnt, the Citizen Science Initiative will collect evidence on the potential of up-scaling of these experiences to the whole region while providing an esteem of the up-scaling potential at the national level.