JINJA — The government has officially launched the nationwide rollout of Skeepon Technology, a new climate-smart agricultural innovation that promises to help Ugandan farmers protect crops against prolonged drought, rising temperatures and erratic rainfall, in what officials described as a major step towards strengthening food security and agricultural productivity.
The technology was unveiled on Tuesday by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during the 2026 National Agricultural Show in Jinja, where government reaffirmed its commitment to using science and innovation to shield Uganda’s agriculture from the growing impacts of climate change.
The launch comes as Uganda continues to grapple with increasingly unpredictable weather patterns that have disrupted farming seasons, reduced crop yields and threatened household incomes across many parts of the country.
Speaking at the launch, Nabbanja said government was prioritising practical technologies capable of helping farmers remain productive despite worsening climate conditions.
“Climate change continues to pose one of the greatest threats to our agricultural sector. Government will continue supporting technologies that improve resilience, increase productivity and enhance household incomes. Skeepon Technology is one such innovation that will enable our farmers to produce more despite increasingly unpredictable weather conditions,” she said.
Science-backed solution
Skeepon Technology has been introduced through a partnership involving the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), the Office of the Prime Minister and Ac-Planta Inc., a biotechnology company based in Tokyo, Japan.
Unlike conventional agricultural inputs, Skeepon is a plant biostimulant that activates a crop’s own natural defence mechanisms, enabling plants to withstand drought and heat stress without altering their genetic makeup.
According to government, once applied, the technology allows crops to continue growing under conditions of limited rainfall and high temperatures for up to three months while maintaining plant health and productivity.
Officials say the innovation complements existing farming practices such as irrigation, fertiliser application and improved seed varieties but also delivers significant benefits in rain-fed farming systems where irrigation infrastructure remains limited.
NARO trials show significant yield gains
Before approving the nationwide rollout, NARO conducted scientific validation of the technology over two cropping seasons under Ugandan farming conditions.
According to researchers, the results demonstrated substantial improvements in both crop productivity and resilience.
The field trials recorded:
- More than 30 percent higher maize yields compared to untreated crops.
- Over 45 percent higher vegetable yields.
- Faster crop growth.
- Improved plant vigour.
- Greater tolerance to drought and heat stress.
Scientists also reported healthier plants and improved overall performance even under adverse weather conditions.
Addressing participants during the launch, NARO Director General Yona Baguma said the technology demonstrated how agricultural research could directly address the challenges confronting Ugandan farmers.
“This innovation demonstrates the power of science in solving real problems facing our farmers. NARO’s mandate is to generate technologies that improve productivity, build resilience and support agro-industrialisation. The positive results from our research give us confidence that Skeepon will significantly contribute to Uganda’s food security and economic transformation.”
Affordable technology for smallholder farmers
Government estimates that Skeepon will be affordable for most farmers, costing between UGX 12,000 and UGX 27,000 per acre depending on crop type and application requirements.
Officials argue that the relatively low cost offers farmers a high return on investment by reducing production losses associated with drought while simultaneously increasing yields and improving crop quality.
Beyond boosting production, the technology is expected to:
- Improve water-use efficiency.
- Reduce risks associated with climate variability.
- Increase farmer incomes.
- Strengthen raw material supplies for agro-processors.
- Enhance Uganda’s agricultural exports.
Government believes widespread adoption could significantly improve national food security while reducing the vulnerability of agriculture to climate shocks.
Partnership born from Uganda-Japan cooperation
The collaboration traces its origins to December 2022 when Prime Minister Nabbanja met the founder of Ac-Planta Inc. during the Uganda-Japan Business Forum.
Following the meeting, MAAIF and NARO entered into a research partnership with the Japanese biotechnology company to scientifically evaluate the product under Ugandan conditions before commercial registration.
Officials say only after successful field validation was the decision made to proceed with nationwide deployment.
The technology has already been commercially adopted in Japan, the United States and South Korea and has also been registered for use in the United States.
Local manufacturing plans
Government also announced plans to explore local formulation and eventual manufacturing of Skeepon within Uganda as demand increases.
Officials say domestic production would lower import costs, create jobs, attract private investment and position Uganda as a regional manufacturing hub for climate-smart agricultural technologies.
The move aligns with government’s broader agro-industrialisation strategy aimed at increasing local value addition and reducing dependence on imported agricultural inputs.
National rollout
Distribution of the technology will be coordinated by NARO Holdings Limited, the commercial arm of NARO.
Government plans to use multiple delivery channels including:
- Agricultural extension services.
- Farmer cooperatives.
- Agro-input dealers.
- Farmer organisations.
- Government agencies.
- Private sector distributors.
Authorities also intend to introduce farmer-friendly financing models such as bundled input packages, input credit schemes and agro-processor off-take partnerships to encourage widespread adoption.
Officials hope these approaches will make the technology accessible even to smallholder farmers who often struggle to purchase modern agricultural inputs.
Addressing challenges identified under PDM
Government said the rollout directly responds to concerns raised during recent Presidential assessment tours under the Parish Development Model.
Farmers reportedly identified prolonged drought, unreliable rainfall, limited irrigation infrastructure, low uptake of improved technologies and declining productivity among the biggest obstacles affecting agricultural production.
Officials believe Skeepon could provide one of the practical solutions needed to address these persistent challenges, particularly in areas heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture.
Government has now called upon farmers, local governments, development partners, financial institutions, agricultural extension workers and the private sector to support the nationwide deployment of the technology.
Supporting Uganda’s long-term development agenda
Officials say the rollout supports Uganda’s broader development priorities, including Uganda Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan and the Parish Development Model.
By improving resilience against climate change, increasing yields and stabilising agricultural production, government expects the technology to contribute to stronger food security, higher agricultural exports and a more resilient economy capable of withstanding future climate shocks.
With climate variability increasingly becoming one of the biggest threats to Uganda’s agriculture, officials say the nationwide rollout of Skeepon represents a significant shift towards science-driven farming, offering farmers a new tool to sustain production in an era of more frequent droughts and unpredictable weather.
