Entrepreneur Helps Ugandan Farmers
- Jul 20
- 1 min read
Ugandan entrepreneur Shifra Ainomugisha has been named the 2026 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year for developing climate technologies that help smallholder farmers reduce food waste and increase their incomes. Inspired by watching nearly half of her family's tomato harvest spoil before it could be sold, she co-founded Solafam Uganda, a social enterprise that combines solar-powered cold storage, solar irrigation systems, and an AI-powered farming assistant that provides guidance on planting, pest control, irrigation, and market access. The technology is designed to be affordable and accessible, helping farmers preserve more of their crops, reduce post-harvest losses, and earn more from the food they grow. With a strong focus on supporting women farmers, Ainomugisha's work is improving food security while demonstrating how renewable energy and artificial intelligence can help tackle hunger across Africa.
Image via IPS News
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