For decades, cocoa cultivation was considered impossible in Lira and the wider Lango sub-region.
Farmers believed the area’s rainfall patterns, high temperatures and soil conditions could not support a crop traditionally associated with wetter regions such as Bundibugyo and parts of West Africa.
Today, that belief is gradually being challenged by one farmer’s determination and innovation.
Joseph Ogwal Oyuk, a farmer in Lira City West and director of Acanga Farm Estates, is leading an agricultural transformation by demonstrating that cocoa can thrive in the region when supported by proper irrigation and shade management.
Historically, farmers in Lango have relied on seasonal cash crops such as cotton and oilseeds. While these crops provide relatively quick returns, they often keep farmers trapped in low-value production cycles.
Cocoa, by contrast, is a perennial crop that can take between 18 months and five years to mature. It requires patience, long-term investment and technical knowledge, factors that have discouraged many farmers from growing it.
“There was a belief that our climate was too dry for cocoa,” Ogwal said. “But with proper irrigation and shade, the temperatures here are actually suitable.”
At his 10-acre Acanga Farm Estates, Ogwal has dedicated one acre to cocoa production. He also operates a nursery with more than 30,000 cocoa seedlings ready for distribution to farmers across the region.
The farm began in 1988 with mango production before expanding into coffee growing in 2000. Ogwal first ventured into cocoa in 2003 and raised more than 45,000 seedlings. However, the project struggled because of operational challenges, especially limited access to water.
“When I started, I used a watering can, then a treadle pump, and later a petrol pump,” he said. “We carried water manually from the source. Workers got exhausted, the process was slow, and the costs were high. That limited the number of seedlings I could produce.”
The turning point came when he adopted solar-powered irrigation technology.
The system pumps water directly from the source to the nursery and fields, significantly reducing labour requirements and saving time.
“With solar irrigation, water is always available. What used to take hours now takes about 15 minutes,” Ogwal said.
The impact has been immediate. The capacity of his nursery has doubled from 15,000 to more than 30,000 seedlings, enabling him to meet growing demand from farmers interested in cocoa cultivation.
The solar irrigation system was acquired from Tulima Solar, a company that supplies productivity-enhancing agricultural equipment across East Africa.
Through a partnership with Equity Bank Uganda under a Results-Based Financing programme, the technology has become more affordable and accessible to rural farmers, allowing them to adopt renewable energy solutions that improve agricultural productivity.
A founding member of the Uganda National Farmers’ Association, Ogwal said his decision to focus on cocoa was driven by market opportunities.
“I always look at market value before investing,” he said. “When I saw the demand for cocoa and its rising prices, I decided to focus on producing seedlings.”
According to Ogwal, wet cocoa beans currently sell for about Shs14,000 per kilogramme, making the crop an attractive option for farmers seeking higher incomes.
Agricultural experts note that cocoa can grow in Lira’s moderate to high temperatures provided there is adequate moisture and shade.
Solar irrigation has helped overcome one of the biggest challenges by using the region’s abundant sunshine to power water pumps. What was once viewed as a climatic disadvantage is increasingly becoming an advantage.
Today, Ogwal believes the biggest obstacle is no longer the environment but limited knowledge among farmers.
To address this challenge, he operates a field farm school at Acanga Farm Estates, where farmers receive training in sustainable cocoa production practices.
He has already supplied cocoa seedlings to more than 200 farmers across the Lango sub-region.
“People come here to learn how to grow cocoa profitably,” he said. “I show them the right methods so they can succeed.”
The farm has become a learning centre and demonstration site for agricultural diversification in northern Uganda.
Looking ahead, Ogwal plans to expand both his cocoa plantation and nursery operations. Encouraged by the success of his current one-acre cocoa plot, he intends to add another acre to cocoa production and increase nursery output to 300,000 seedlings.
Virginia Semakula, Equity Bank Uganda’s Manager for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, said the bank is committed to expanding access to renewable energy financing.
“Our vision is a Uganda where every household and business can access clean energy without taking on unmanageable debt,” Semakula said.
“We want renewable energy financing to become as common and accessible as school fees loans or boda boda financing. Results-Based Financing and Pay-As-You-Go models will play an important role in scaling access.
“Ultimately, clean energy is not only about climate change. It is about improving livelihoods, reducing household expenses, supporting businesses, improving education outcomes and creating healthier communities.”
Ogwal’s long-term goal is to make cocoa a viable, high-value crop across the Lango sub-region and help farmers turn what was once considered an impossible idea into a profitable enterprise.
As solar technology, farmer training and strong market demand come together, cocoa farming in Lira is no longer a distant dream. It is becoming a growing movement built on innovation, resilience and a willingness to challenge long-held assumptions.
