In a concerted effort to bolster food and nutrition security, President Bola Tinubu unveiled plans to transition fuel irrigation pumps to operate on renewable energy. This initiative aims to assist farmers in mitigating the impact of the rising cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
The announcement was made by President Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, during his keynote address at the opening of the 6th Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week (AAEW). The event centered around the theme, “Harnessing Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services in Scaling Regenerative Agriculture and Nature-Based Solutions for Food System Transformation in Africa,” and took place in Abuja.
President Tinubu acknowledged the challenges posed by the increased petrol prices and disclosed that the government was introducing solar-powered irrigation pumps to address this issue. These pumps will be made accessible to clusters of farmers, enabling them to tap into this renewable energy solution.
He stressed the vital role of agricultural extension services in delivering improved technologies and solutions developed by National Agricultural Research Institutions (NARIs), input suppliers, and marketers to farmers. President Tinubu highlighted the creation of the first-ever Harmonized Extension Manual in Nigeria and a National Agricultural Extension Policy. The manual focuses on effectively disseminating agricultural innovations and technologies using appropriate extension methods, benefiting various stakeholders within the agricultural value chains.
Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of shifting from subsistence farming to market-oriented agriculture. President Tinubu presented the National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro-Pocket program, which supports millions of farmers by providing training in good agricultural practices, certified inputs, and irrigation equipment at subsidized prices to enhance productivity and increase incomes.
Regarding the rising costs of fuelling irrigation pumps, President Tinubu revealed that the government is exploring renewable energy options. These include solar-powered irrigation pumps and electric pumps with solar charging points. Such solutions will be implemented in areas with clusters of farmers.
President Tinubu stressed the need for accessible, understandable, and multi-channel technologies for farmers, emphasizing that the flow of information is crucial for making a meaningful impact.
The overarching goal is to develop the agricultural sector in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly targeting zero hunger and enhanced agricultural and rural productivity. Nigeria aims to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and reduce dependence on food imports.
However, the President expressed concerns about the lack of synergy and cooperation between agricultural research institutes, emphasizing the need for sharing technologies and shifting towards a demand-driven agricultural research development agenda.
He concluded by emphasizing the Ministry’s intention to conduct a comprehensive stakeholder analysis and mapping as a foundational step for future actions, emphasizing a commitment to fostering a significant transformation in the agricultural sector.
