Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agriculture sector have identified access to finance and farmer training as critical factors in scaling up solar-powered irrigation across the country.
This was the focus of discussions at a stakeholders’ workshop held in Abuja on Tuesday, where experts stressed that while solar irrigation technology is readily available, adoption remains slow due to high upfront costs and limited technical capacity among farmers.
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The workshop, organised by the International Water Management Institute and the International Food Policy Research Institute in collaboration with the CGIAR, brought together policymakers, financial institutions, and development partners.
Speaking at the event, a senior researcher noted that many smallholder farmers are willing to adopt solar-powered irrigation systems but lack the financial support to afford the initial investment.
He emphasised that institutions such as Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending and commercial banks have a crucial role to play in providing credit facilities and risk-sharing mechanisms to ease adoption.
Participants also highlighted that beyond financing, farmers need hands-on training to properly operate and maintain solar irrigation systems, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Officials from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security reiterated government commitment to expanding irrigation through strategic partnerships and pilot projects in selected states.
They noted that improving farmers’ access to affordable irrigation solutions would not only increase crop yields but also enable year-round farming, reducing Nigeria’s vulnerability to climate shocks such as droughts and floods.
Stakeholders agreed that aligning efforts across government, private sector players, and development partners will be key to delivering scalable and lasting impact.
The meeting forms part of ongoing efforts under the Scaling for Impact programme aimed at driving practical, farmer-led solutions to strengthen Nigeria’s food systems.
