Agricultural stakeholders in Nigeria have intensified calls for increased investment in solar-powered irrigation, as experts warn that high energy costs continue to limit farmers’ productivity and threaten food security.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja, Dr Adebayo Oke of the International Water Management Institute said Nigeria has a strong opportunity to transform irrigation practices by leveraging its abundant solar resources.
The workshop, titled “Scaling Climate-Resilient Irrigation: Partnership Alignment, Coordinated Pathways and Learning in Nigeria,” was organised by IWMI in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute and the CGIAR.
Oke noted that rising diesel and petrol prices have made conventional irrigation systems increasingly unsustainable for smallholder farmers, stressing that solar-powered alternatives offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.
“Given the high fuel prices and abundant solar energy in Nigeria, there is a huge opportunity to power smallholder irrigation sustainably,” he said.
He, however, identified access to finance as a major barrier preventing widespread adoption of solar irrigation technologies.
“Many technologies exist, and farmers are interested, but the initial cost remains a challenge. Financial institutions, banks, and risk-mitigating agencies must step in to support farmers,” Oke added.
Beyond financing, he emphasised the need for capacity building, noting that farmers require technical knowledge to properly operate and maintain solar-powered systems.
According to him, empowering farmers with the right skills is critical to ensuring long-term sustainability and maximising the benefits of irrigation technologies.
Oke further stressed that scaling irrigation across Nigeria would require strong collaboration among government agencies, private sector players, development partners and farmers.
He said coordinated efforts and clearly defined roles among stakeholders would enhance efficiency, promote shared responsibility, and improve the success rate of interventions.
Highlighting climate challenges, Oke warned that issues such as droughts and floods continue to threaten water availability for agriculture, making resilient irrigation systems more urgent.
Also speaking, Mrs Esther Oluniyi of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation said the ministry is working with IWMI and private sector partners to expand access to clean water for agricultural use.
She noted that the high cost of diesel and petrol has made solar-powered irrigation systems a more viable option for farmers, adding that ongoing collaborations would deliver reliable and affordable solutions.
Oluniyi said the ministry is also scaling up outreach programmes to promote the use of safe and quality water in agriculture, with technical partners providing training to help farmers cope with climate challenges such as floods and droughts.
In the same vein, Dr Olawumi Ayodele of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security said the Federal Government is prioritising irrigation expansion under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Ayodele disclosed that both the agriculture and water resources ministries are collaborating to ensure water availability for farming across the country, enabling all-year-round agricultural production.
He added that pilot irrigation interventions would be implemented in four states to demonstrate improved practices and boost productivity.
Stakeholders at the workshop unanimously stressed that strengthened partnerships, improved financing, and farmer capacity development remain critical to scaling climate-resilient irrigation and enhancing Nigeria’s food security.