I CAN South Sudan (ICSS), under the SUSTAIN Consortium Project implemented in partnership with Oxfam Uganda and funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, continued conducting exchange learning visits for VSLA and farmer group leaders from refugee and host communities in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement. The visits aimed to increase awareness and demand for Productive Use of Energy (PUE) technologies by providing participants with practical demonstrations of solar-powered irrigation systems and showcasing how renewable energy can improve livelihoods through year-round agricultural production.

During the visits, demonstration host groups shared their experiences on the benefits of solar irrigation, highlighting increased agricultural productivity, improved household incomes, enhanced food security, and resilience to prolonged dry seasons. Participants observed thriving vegetable gardens despite the harsh weather conditions and learned best practices in irrigation management, crop production, and group organization through peer-to-peer learning.

The exchange learning visits inspired many VSLA and farmer group leaders to adopt Productive Use of Energy technologies within their own communities. The success stories demonstrated that solar irrigation enables continuous production, creates market opportunities during the dry season, and strengthens livelihoods. The activity reinforced the role of practical demonstrations and peer learning as effective approaches for increasing the uptake of renewable energy technologies among refugees and host communities.

The sample harvest showcases the remarkable success despite prolonged dry seasons. This demonstrates the transformative impact of Productive Use of Energy (PUE) technologies in improving agricultural productivity, food security, and household incomes.