Small-scale solar-powered irrigation pumps are rapidly increasing dry-season production for smallholder farmers across parts of Southern Africa. Where diesel and grid electricity were unaffordable or unreliable, solar pumps now enable multiple production cycles of high-value vegetables and increase household nutrition through year-round availability of leafy greens. Farmers adopting solar irrigation report improved yields, steady supply ...

By Brandon Moss A recent study by the Africa Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) has revealed a significant uptick in solar energy reporting across East Africa, with coverage rising by 79% between 2023 and 2024. The research, conducted in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, highlights growing media attention to solar energy’s role in agriculture and rural ...

By Brandon Moss The U.S. Department of Agriculture has drawn a firm line in the soil: no more federal funding for solar panel installations on productive farmland. The decision, announced last week by Secretary Brooke Rollins, is already reverberating across global agri-policy circles—including those watching closely from Africa. For years, American farmers tapped into programs ...

By Brandon Moss Garissa County, once synonymous with drought and food insecurity, is now emerging as a model for solar-powered agriculture. Inspired by the Garissa Solar Plant—the largest in East Africa—local farmers are tapping into renewable energy to irrigate crops year-round. Along the River Tana, smallholder farmers have shifted from subsistence maize to high-value horticulture ...

By Brandon Moss The Federal Government of Nigeria is making bold strides in clean energy deployment through two transformative initiatives—Phase IV of the Energising Education Programme (EEP) and the Agricultural Centers of Excellence (ACE)—both spearheaded by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). Energising Education Programme (EEP) – Phase IV Objective: Provide reliable, clean energy to federal ...

As the world races to meet net-zero targets, emissions from all industrial sectors must be reduced more urgently than ever. Agriculture is an important area of focus as it contributes up to 22% of global greenhouse gas emissions – almost as much as the energy sector. One approach to decarbonising the agricultural sector is agrivoltaics. ...

The SOLA Group sees great promise in the new TSO bill, but says that South Africans must hold government to its promises. Says Jonathan Skeen, director of SOLA, “As a provider of clean and innovative energy projects for close to two decades, we’ve often fought against the tide of prevailing energy policy or industry norms. ...

While load shedding causes major headaches for most farmers who rely on irrigation and cooling facilities, many Tru-Cape producers have made significant investments in alternative energy sources. This ensures a reliable supply while also saving costs and reducing their environmental footprint. Close to Caledon, the Van Niekerk Boerdery is one of Tru-Cape’s apple and pear ...