ON the heels of the International Clean Energy Day commemorated January 26, 2024, HortiNigeria, with funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, in the bid to boost food security has empowered farmers in the horticultural subsector with solar-powered pumps in Kaduna, Kano, Ogun, and Oyo States.
Since 2021, the Dutch-funded initiative has been a cornerstone in fostering a sustainable and inclusive horticulture sector, enhancing food and nutrition security across Kaduna, Kano, Ogun, and Oyo states in cabbage, cucumber, okro, tomatoes, pepper, carrots, watermelon, sweetcorn value chains.
A key innovation in the Programme is the introduction of solar-powered irrigation pumps across 10 Local Government Areas, LGAs, in Kano, Ogun, and Oyo States.
This eco-friendly technology is not just a testament to HortiNigeria’s commitment to environmental stewardship but also a practical solution to two critical challenges in agriculture: limited water access and the rising costs of fuel for irrigation.
By distributing 10 high-capacity solar irrigation pumps and educating over 50,000 farmers in sustainable practices, HortiNigeria has not only streamlined agricultural productivity but significantly reduced the carbon footprint of farming activities.
Programme Director, HortiNigeria, Mohammed Salasi, disclosed that plans are on the way to expand the initiative .
Salasi said: “we plan to expand this initiative, and we call on the federal, state, and local governments to join us in promoting renewable energy for a sustainable agricultural future.
“The HortiNigeria Programme (2021-2025), a collaboration with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation, KIT Royal Tropical Institute, and Wageningen University & Research, remains dedicated to pioneering sustainable solutions for Nigerian agriculture.”
A farmer, Kubura Ali, from Garko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, said most of them now enjoy the dual benefits of cost-effective and environmentally sustainable irrigation, moving away from the traditional, fuel-dependent methods.
According to another farmer simply called Hassan said, “The solar-powered pumps have revolutionized our farming, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.”
Similarly, Ifeoluwa Oyeyemi, a HortiNigeria Business Champion and Agripreneur from Ibadan, Oyo State, acknowledges, “These pumps have brought reliable energy, transforming fieldwork and ability to scale innovations to other farmers in the community.”
Meanwhile, a lecturer of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Prof Isaac Aiyelaagbe said, “The introduction of solar-powered irrigation is a game-changer, shaping our student-community’s farming practices and educational curriculum towards environmental sustainability.”