East Africa, comprising Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, is often affected by food shortages and hunger driven by climate shocks and limited access to energy. Agriculture is the backbone of the region, employing 60–70% of the population and contributing over 30% of GDP. Yet, the sector is highly vulnerable to climate change and energy gaps.

Energy access remains uneven: Kenya stands at 73.9%, Tanzania at 67.5%, and Uganda at 51.5%. For farmers in off-grid areas, this lack of reliable power makes irrigation, cold storage, and processing difficult. Many still rely on costly diesel pumps and manual labor.

Agri-solar, which combines solar energy with agriculture and rainwater harvesting, offers a climate-smart solution. It can expand energy access, improve productivity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing polluting diesel systems. However, adoption remains slow due to high upfront costs, limited financing, and policy gaps.

This blog explores the progress, financing models, policies, and challenges shaping agri-solar in East Africa, and proposes recommendations for scaling its adoption.

Progress of Agri-Solar Adoption

Strong Solar Potential

East Africa enjoys abundant sunshine, with potential ranging between 4.0–6.9 kWh/m²/day, coupled with fertile agricultural land. Several private sector players such as SunCulture and Davis & Shirtliff are already driving uptake with solar-powered irrigation and financing solutions for smallholder farmers.

Solar energy is also making strides in power generation. Kenya’s Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP) is targeting 277,000 households, while Uganda has installed more than 4,000 solar irrigation systems. In Tanzania, programs like Simu-Solar are promoting solar irrigation, alongside small-scale projects that support fisheries and rural livelihoods through solar lanterns and pumps.

Financing Models

Innovative financing is helping to overcome cost barriers. Models such as PAYGO and PAY-OWN allow farmers to pay 20–25% upfront, then spread the balance through installments or leasing.

• In Kenya, KCIC offers concessional loans to farmers in counties like Kitui, Isiolo, Makueni, and Laikipia.

• ECLOF Kenya provides loans with interest rates around 12% to farmers in some of the poorest counties.

• In Uganda, Heifer Impact and Stanbic Uganda are financing solar adoption for smallholder farmers.

• In Tanzania, microfinance institutions and Village Community Banks are creating partnerships with renewable energy companies to expand access.
  

Supportive Policies

The region has introduced enabling policies:

• Kenya: National Energy Policy (2018), National Electrification Strategy, and the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan all prioritize decentralized solar irrigation.

• Uganda: Renewable Energy Policy (2007) and National Energy Policy (2019) support solar irrigation, while the Climate Change Policy (2015) promotes renewable integration in agriculture.

• Tanzania: National Energy Policy (2015), Agriculture Policy (2013), and National Irrigation Policy (2010) encourage modernization through solar.

Governments have also introduced subsidies and import tax exemptions, making solar equipment more accessible.

Challenges to Agri-Solar Adoption

Despite progress, several barriers remain:

• High Upfront Costs – Solar irrigation systems can cost between USD 480–750 in Kenya, USD 1,100–3,800 in Uganda, and USD 365–4,310 in Tanzania. Even with credit facilities, many smallholder farmers cannot afford them.

• Limited Technical Capacity – Many farmers, technicians, and extension officers lack the training needed to install, operate, and maintain systems.

• Policy Fragmentation – Coordination gaps between energy, agriculture, and water sectors slow down integration of agri-solar in national development plans.

• Weak Private Sector Engagement – Investments are limited by high perceived risks, affordability issues among farmers, and lack of targeted incentives.

• Cross-Border Barriers – Differences in standards, certification, and regulations restrict regional trade in solar equipment and services.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Agri-solar technologies can help East Africa leverage its abundant solar resources to improve food security, increase productivity, and strengthen climate resilience. To accelerate adoption, the following actions are recommended:

• Harmonize policies across energy, agriculture, and water sectors to better integrate agri-solar into food security strategies.

• Expand financing tools such as concessional loans, PAYGO models, and blended finance to make solutions more affordable.

• Standardize trade and certification rules across the region to improve quality and scale cross-border trade.

• Offer targeted subsidies to lower costs for smallholder farmers.

• Invest in technical capacity building by training farmers, technicians, and extension officers, while scaling farmer demonstrations and working groups.

By tackling these barriers, East Africa can unlock the potential of agri-solar, empowering farmers with the tools they need to adapt to climate change, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and build a more resilient agricultural sector.