A Ugandan Farmer’s Success, Powered by the Sun

Night falls in Pong Dwongo village, Gulu District, northern Uganda, but Susan Acan's farm is just waking up. As the rest of the village winds down, a string of solar-powered bulbs flickers to life in her cowshed and casts a steady glow over the area where she tends to her dairy cows.

“Before we had the solar extended to the cow shed, it was very scary and difficult to come out at night, even if the cows were making noise and crying, because this whole place would be dark,” Susan, 34, explained, speaking in Acholi, the local language.

“Now, with the lights available, once we sense maybe there is danger or something abnormal with the cows, it’s easy to come out because the place is always well lit.”

With visibility during the early morning and late evening hours, Susan is able to milk her cows before the sun rises and feed them well into the night.

Susan's involvement in Heifer Uganda's Jinnai Dairy Development Project Phase 2 (JDDP2) was instrumental in reshaping what was possible on her farm. Beyond the solar panel that powers her cowshed, she sharpened her livestock management skills, embraced sustainable farming techniques and introduced a new high-yield breed of dairy cows to her homestead — all changes that have opened avenues for income and stability and given her the means to provide more for her family.

Before starting to work with Heifer International in 2019, Susan had 14 Ankole longhorn cattle, along with goats and chickens for family consumption. The Ankole cows produced little milk, just enough for her household, and she couldn’t sell the cows for income, either, because cattle prices were low at the time. Her maize, beans, cassava and sesame crops were also used only to feed the family.

“Now, with the lights available, once we sense maybe there is danger or something abnormal with the cows, it’s easy to come out because the place is always well lit.” — Susan Acan

After joining the Heifer project and learning that better-breed cows, like the Holstein Friesian, could be more productive and valuable if adequately cared for, Susan transitioned to a smaller, more productive herd of four Friesian cows. Through the Heifer-supported Gulu Nozomi Dairy Cooperative, she received two of these cows through a livestock loan, with an agreement to pay back the value in installments, using the increased income from her milk sales.

As part of the livestock training, she learned how to spray her Friesian cows to protect them from ticks and how to detect early signs of sickness so her cows stay healthy and strong.

Susan also received a variety of grasses and legumes to help feed her cattle. This included a tub filled with Brachiaria grass — a drought-resistant fodder ideal for improving livestock health — which she split and planted across her farm.

In addition, she secured more than 32 kilograms of seeds and cuttings, including three bags of Napier grass cuttings, soybean seeds, Chloris gayana grass, lablab forage and five seedlings of Calliandra, a fast-growing tree known for its protein-rich fodder. She planted all of this to grow a reliable, nutrient-dense feed mix for her livestock.

The steady supply of fodder keeps her cows well fed, even during the rainy season, so she doesn’t have to search for grass in the bush — a difficult and time-consuming task when the ground is wet and muddy.

“It is very helpful when it’s raining, and you can’t go to the bush to look for grass. This is what the cows feed on,” she said.

The solar panel installed in her cowshed completed the setup by providing stable power for her dairy operation. While her home already had a smaller solar panel, this new system powers the cowshed lights and a small radio outside so Susan can work without the limitations of darkness.

The panel, which cost 1.5 million Ugandan shillings, about $400, was partially funded by JDDP2. Susan will pay off the remaining 40 percent through installment payments over the next 12 months.

Armed with refined skills and upgraded resources in hand, Susan now has the security and freedom to care for her four cows, which have become the backbone of her family’s livelihood.

These days, Susan’s cows produce up to 22 liters of milk each day. This is enough to feed her family and sell for income to buy household essentials, like soap, salt and sugar, and pay for her daughters' education.

Shiella, 14, and Michelle, 12, are both in boarding school, while her youngest, Elizabeth, attends primary school in the village.

“The wealth Megolonyo and Acayo have brought to the household is used to pay the girls’ school fees,” she said, referring to her two new Holstein Friesians. Megolonyo means “motherhood is wealth” in Acholi; the other, Acayo, is named in honor of her mother-in-law.

In the future, Susan plans to expand her herd to 50 cows, and as she grows her farm, she wants to share her achievements by offering microloans to help other families invest in livestock.

With solar power guiding her path, Susan’s goals are within reach. And as access to renewable energy spreads, its potential to brighten rural communities like hers will only continue to shine — one farm at a time.