The Government of Uganda has launched an innovative climate-smart agricultural solution designed to strengthen crops resilience against drought, erratic rainfall and heat stress.
The technology, known as Skeepon Technology (SKP), was officially unveiled by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during the 2026 National Agricultural Show in Jinja as part of the country’s efforts to build a more resilient and productive agricultural sector amid growing climate challenges.
The innovation is a plant bio-stimulant that activates crops’ natural drought and heat tolerance mechanisms, enabling plants to continue growing under water stress and high temperatures for up to three months.
The government believes the technology will help farmers cope with increasingly unpredictable weather patterns that have become a major threat to food production, household incomes and economic growth.
The launch comes at a time when Uganda is experiencing increasing climate inconsistency characterized by prolonged dry spells, rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns that continue to threaten food security and agricultural productivity.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, employing the majority of the population and contributing significantly to export earnings, making climate resilience a key national priority.
Speaking during the launch, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting innovations that help farmers adapt to climate change and improve productivity.
“Climate change continues to pose one of the greatest threats to our agricultural sector, and government will continue supporting technologies that improve resilience, increase productivity and enhance household incomes, with Skeepon Technology being one such innovation that will enable our farmers to produce more despite increasingly unpredictable weather conditions,” she said.
The technology was introduced through a partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and Ac-Planta Inc., a Japanese agricultural biotechnology company, following extensive scientific evaluation and successful field trials conducted across Uganda.
According to researchers, Skeepon helps crops withstand drought and heat stress, enabling sustained growth and improved performance in both irrigated and rain-fed farming systems.
Field efficacy studies conducted by NARO over two cropping seasons demonstrated strong results, with researchers recording more than 30 percent higher maize yields and over 45 percent higher vegetable yields compared to untreated crops, alongside faster crop growth, improved plant vigor and significantly greater tolerance to drought and heat stress.
Addressing participants at the show, NARO Director General Dr. Yona Baguma said the successful trials demonstrate the value of research-driven innovations in addressing challenges faced by farmers.
“This innovation demonstrates the power of science in solving real problems facing our farmers, and as NARO continues 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,” he said.
Dr. Baguma noted that the technology complements existing climate-smart agricultural interventions and could play an important role in improving national food production, particularly as climate variability continues to affect farming systems across the country.
The technology originated from Ac-Planta Inc. in Tokyo, Japan, and government collaboration with the company began after Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja met its founder during the Uganda-Japan Business Forum in December 2022, leading to a research partnership between MAAIF and NARO to validate the technology under Ugandan conditions before approving its deployment.
Beyond boosting crop yields, government officials expect Skeepon to reduce production risks associated with climate variability, improve water-use efficiency and strengthen Uganda’s agro-industrialisation agenda by ensuring a more reliable supply of raw materials for processors and exporters.
Government estimates that Skeepon can significantly boost farmer incomes through higher yields, improved crop quality and reduced losses at an affordable cost of UGX12,000 to UGX27,000 per acre.
Already commercially used in Japan, the United States and South Korea, Skeepon has also been successfully registered in the United States. Uganda is now exploring opportunities for local formulation and manufacturing as demand grows.
Officials say local production would reduce import costs, create employment opportunities, stimulate private sector investment and position Uganda as a regional hub for climate-smart agricultural inputs.
NARO Holdings Limited will distribute Skeepon nationwide through partnerships with government agencies, farmer organizations and private sector players using farmer-friendly delivery models. The rollout responds to challenges raised by farmers, including erratic weather, limited irrigation and low technology adoption.
Government has urged stakeholders to support the initiative, which is expected to advance Uganda’s Vision 2040, strengthen food security, boost agricultural exports and enhance climate resilience.
