By Tosin Kolade
Agricultural and irrigation stakeholders in Nigeria met in Abuja to explore strategies for expanding solar-powered irrigation, with the aim of boosting agricultural productivity and strengthening national food security.
The discussions formed part of the workshop titled “Scaling Climate-Resilient Irrigation: Partnership Alignment, Coordinated Pathways and Learning in Nigeria”, on Tuesday.
The workshop is coordinated by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), in collaboration with the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR).
Dr Adebayo Oke, Senior Regional Researcher-NEXT Generation Irrigation IWMI, said the meeting focused on reducing energy costs for irrigation.
“Given the high fuel prices and abundant solar energy in Nigeria, there is a huge opportunity to power smallholder irrigation sustainably,” he said.
He explained that while solar technology is available, one of the main challenges remains farmers’ access to finance.
“Many technologies exist, and farmers are interested, but initial costs can be a barrier. That is why financial institutions, banks, and risk-mitigating agencies such as NIRSAL must play a key role in supporting farmers to adopt these systems,” Oke said.
He also highlighted the need for technical training, saying empowering farmers goes beyond providing equipment.
“They need skills and operational knowledge to maximise the benefits of solar irrigation. Building capacity at the local level ensures solutions are sustainable and effective over time,” he added.
Oke stressed the importance of stakeholder alignment, noting that scaling up agriculture in a vast country like Nigeria requires collective effort.
He explained that collaboration among government, the private sector, development partners, and farmers is essential to ensure that resources, technology, and finance are effectively utilised.
He further noted that partnerships foster shared ownership of targets and responsibilities, adding that clearly defined roles and effective coordination among stakeholders increase the likelihood of successful interventions.
He described the workshop as a step towards aligning scaling pathways and advancing farmer-led irrigation as a sustainable solution.
Highlighting government efforts, Oke acknowledged that while previous initiatives have recorded notable progress, there remains a need for sustained action.
He emphasised that improving agricultural productivity requires collective effort, especially in addressing climate-related challenges such as droughts and floods that threaten water availability for farming.
Mrs Esther Oluniyi, Director of the Irrigation and Drainage Department at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, said the ministry is collaborating with IWMI and private sector partners to improve access to clean water for agricultural use.
“High diesel and petrol costs have made solar-powered systems a viable alternative. Through this partnership, farmers will benefit from reliable and affordable irrigation solutions,” she said.
Oluniyi also highlighted the ministry’s efforts to ensure that both urban and rural communities have access to safe water.
She noted that outreach is being expanded to promote the use of good-quality water in agriculture, with technical and development partners providing training and support to help Nigeria adapt to climate-related challenges such as floods and droughts.
She emphasised the importance of partnerships in scaling climate solutions, explaining that the combined expertise of different partners enables the delivery of knowledge, training, and technical support needed to maximise benefits for farmers and communities.
Earlier, Dr Olawumi Ayodele, Director of Extension Services at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said the current administration, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, has prioritised the expansion of irrigation and agricultural development.
He noted that the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources are working in collaboration to ensure water availability for farms across the country, enabling year-round agricultural activities without constraints.
Ayodele explained that pilot interventions are planned in four states to demonstrate improved irrigation practices.
He highlighted that climate-resilient irrigation has the potential to greatly strengthen food security, noting that many farmers, even in water-abundant areas, lack the infrastructure needed to fully utilise available resources.
The director added that the introduction of proven technologies would enhance yields, improve productivity, and support livelihoods.
He further stated that farmer-led interventions promoted by IWMI and IFPRI are designed to ensure that technologies are directly adopted and applied by farmers.
According to him, strengthening farmer engagement and capacity building will support the scaling of practical innovations that can drive sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event brought together farmers, policymakers, financial institutions, development partners, private technology suppliers, and research organisations.
The initiative is part of the Scaling for Impact (S4I) programme under the 2026–2028 implementation plan. (NAN)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
