There are indications that by the end of this dry season there would be more fruits and vegetable in the market than in the previous years. This is because the challenges that farmers in this area often faced are being addressed. Perhaps conscious of the fact that the government cannot do it alone, some foreign agencies have also keyed in to boost government efforts. The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands through Horti-Nigeria, a project funded by the embassy has provided 10 solar-powered irrigation pumps to farmers in Kano, Ogun, Kaduna and Oyo states.
According to a statement to commemorate International Clean Energy Day, Mohammed Salasi, Horti Nigeria programme director, said that the eco-friendly technology is not only a testament to Horti Nigerias commitment to environmental stewardship but also a practical solution to two critical challenges in agriculture which include limited water access and the rising cost of fuel for irrigation. With focus on cabbage, cucumber, okro, tomatoes, pepper, carrots, watermelon, sweetcorn value chains, the programme has distributed 10 high-capacity solar irrigation pumps and educated over 50,000 farmers in sustainable practices, saying they have not only streamlined agricultural productivity but significantly reduced the carbon footprint of farming activities.
Salasi further said that as the programme progresses, they plan to expand the initiative and called on the federal, state, and local governments to join in promoting renewable energy for a sustainable agricultural future.
Since 2021, the Dutch-funded initiative has been a cornerstone in fostering a sustainable and inclusive horticulture sector, enhancing food and nutrition security across 10 local government areas in the four benefiting states.
NETHERLANDS GIVES SOLAR PUMPS TO VEGETABLE, FRUIT FARMERS IN FOUR NIGERIAN STATES
