Experts endorse solar-powered irrigation to boost Nigeria’s agriculture productivity

By Onome Amuge.

The agricultural sector has been considered to have profited significantly in terms of innovations and one of the notable advancements in agricultural production is the solar powered irrigation system.

According to the World Bank, the productivity of irrigated land using this system is two times greater than that of non-irrigated land and three times the productivity of rain-fed land.

Consequently, solar powered irrigation systems have been generating interest globally with various governments and international organisations lending support to its establishment as a viable option for both large and small-scale farmers.

Global market outlook by Transparency Market Research, a renowned research reports and consulting services firm, showed that the solar powered irrigation system market size was valued at $58.6 billion in 2022 and estimated to gow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4 per cent from 2023 to 2031 and reach $121.6 billion by the end of 2031.

In its assessment of solar powered irrigation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) noted that the system provides reliable and affordable energy, potentially reducing energy costs for irrigation.  The FAO also considered solar-powered irrigation as a particularly successful method of overcoming the frequently occurring energy shortages causing disruption of supply needed for distributing irrigation water in developing countries. It also noted that solar irrigation provides opportunities for farmers by leveraging clean, inexpensive and sustainable solar energy to help farmers water their small plots and boost crop yields and incomes.

In Nigeria, the clamour for increased food productivity and promotion of food exportation as a significant source of revenue generation has necessitated the importance of irrigation since rainfall in Nigeria can no longer be predicted as it is irregular and limits the smallholder farmers’ ability to produce more food.

Erratic rainfall coupled with the lack of available water sources and other unfavourable factors such as droughts, especially in the central and northern regions of the country, have been identified among the major causes of exorbitant prices of many farm products during the dry season when farming is said to be more capital intensive due to the scarcity of water across many farmlands. Moreso,  a continuous decline in precipitation is seen to have  affected both the quantity and quality of available water for irrigation, making local food markets more volatile.

According to a World Bank report,despite the rising adaptation of solar-powered irrigation globally,its adopion in Nigeria  has been hindered by several challenges ranging from inconsistent and unstable policies to inappropriate  frameworks.

The report stated that the Federal Ministry of water resources (FMWR), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), state irrigation departments, and River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) have variant duties regarding the irrigation development in Nigeria but rather than complement one another to ensure sustainability of water resources for agriculture in Nigeria, the ministries and the respective agencies have resulted to a competition among one another leading to a fragmented and conflicting approach to irrigation development in the country.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) also noted that overestimation of construction cost, high overhead and management cost, inaccurate irrigation cost/benefit analysis,as well as  technical and management problems are some of the factors affecting the establishment of solar powered irrigation facilities.

IFAD also identified lack of awareness about these solutions, high costs, limited technical expertise among farmers, and a lack of supportive policies and regulations to promote adoption  among other factors affecting its utilisation in the most populous African country. It also found that many smallholder farmers lack the knowledge and financial support required to leverage solar irrigation systems.

To address these challenges and ensure that solar powered irrigation becomes a game changer for farmers especially those in drought prone areas where there is no energy infrastructure, agronomists recommended rapid expansion of more affordable solar-powered irrigation which they posited would provide a great opportunity for small-holders to improve their livelihoods, economic prosperity and food security.

Kenneth Okonkwo, chief executive officer of Irritech Nigeria Limited, a company that deals in provision of solar powered irrigation equipment for small and large scale rural farmers, explained that the solar irrigation solution provides constant access to water for farmers to help them increase their productivity, reduce cost of production and ensure all round production of crops throughout the year.

Okonkwo further noted that the irrigation system will enable farmers to be less dependent on rainfall while increasing  the possibility of multiple cropping and reducing instability in output levels.

Adekunle Oluwasegun, a professor of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin, called for more investments and farmers’ access to solar powered irrigation facilities by the government and private organisations.

Oluwasegun added that constant technical knowledge and awareness should be given to farmers to increase their knowledge and interest in solar powered irrigation systems which he described as technically mature, highly reliable and economically competitive.

“The solar-powered irrigation system is the new face of smart agriculture practice made possible by innovation. It allows the farmer to do more with less and the effect is threefold as it enables them to  save water, save money and save energy,” he said.

A 2022 report by Deloitte Consulting LLP in conjunction with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)  and Nigeria Power Sector Programme (NPSP), titled “Productive use of solar irrigation systems in Nigeria”, found that Nigeria has an agricultural land area of 69 million hectares (ha), of which 33 million ha are cultivated. It also observed that only 10 pe rcent of agricultural land in the country  is irrigated, leaving most farmers to depend heavily on rainfall and cultivate their fields only during the rainy seasons.

The report showed that vegetables, maize, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, and rice are the most commonly irrigated crops and are grown predominantly in the semi-arid North of the country. It also noted that adopting irrigation has been proven to significantly increase the yield for crops such as rice, maize, tomatoes, and onions.

“When adopting solar powered irrigation solutions, farmers can experience improved crop yields, reduced cost of irrigation, economic benefits from energy access, and environmental benefits from avoided use of diesel generators,” the report noted.

In addressing these challenges faced in the irrigation sector, the report said there is a need for increased investment in solar irrigation technologies and infrastructure, which includes providing financing options accessible to smallholder farmers and rural communities. It pointed out that awareness and education on its operations among farmers and rural communities must be increased which is achievable through training programmes and awareness campaigns.

Furthermore, the report said supportive policies and regulations are crucial to promoting the adaptation of solar irrigation solutions in the agricultural sector. These policies, it noted, can include incentives for farmers and rural communities to adopt the technologies and regulations that encourage integrating solar powered irrigation solutions in agricultural value chains.

“Solar powered irrigation solutions offer a significant opportunity to develop Nigeria’s agricultural sector and address the challenges that hinder its growth. By investing in these technologies and infrastructure, increasing awareness and education on the technology, and promoting supportive policies and regulations, Nigeria can unlock the potential of its agricultural sector and achieve sustainable development,” the report concluded.