Summary: 

  • The integration of electricity infrastructure in agrifood systems has the potential to increase crop cultivation, value addition, and income generation while mitigating the challenges associated with food loss across processing, storage, and transport.
  • This study reviews 100 national policies, programs, and regulations from Kenya, Uganda, and India to understand the level of integration of electricity in existing policies in the agrifood sectors, especially in areas where mechanization is most needed. This includes infrastructure related to access to water for agrifood production, as well as storage, postharvest handling, and processing across the agriculture, dairy, and fishery sectors. It examines whether existing agrifood policies in the three countries mention, adopt, budget for, or integrate electricity needs.
  • For improved effectiveness, policies need to establish time-bound mandates, promote interministerial coordination, articulate roles and responsibilities, improve synergy with other allied sectors, build financial incentives, establish appliance standards, foster public-private partnerships, and define ways to monitor and measure targeted outcomes. Such an enabling environment coupled with clean energy and efficient use of resources (water, land, and electricity) can strengthen climate resilience and align agrifood systems with sustainability goals.