Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, says the Federal Government remains committed to driving agrivoltaic farming to boost food and energy production in the country.
Nnaji said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the maiden International Agrivoltaics Workshop and Official Unveiling of the Book titled “Democratising the Sun: Agrivoltaics and the Future of Farming in Nigeria and Africa”
Agrivoltaic farming, also known as agrisolar is the practice of integrating solar panel systems into agricultural land use. It involves growing crops underneath or around solar panels, allowing for simultaneous food and energy production.
The event was organised by Lichipu for Food, Energy and Water Sustainability (LIFEWS) Foundation in collaboration with the University of Abuja, with the support of researchers from Oregon State University, U.S.
The minister said the event embodied the innovation-led, climate-smart, and community-driven approach that is central to the ministry’s agenda for national transformation.
According to him, the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology is committed to driving Nigeria’s transition to a diversified knowledge-based economy through strategic innovation.
The minister said it would also help in areas such as improving crop performance through moderated microclimates, reducing evapotranspiration, and enhancing water use efficiency.
According to him, this aligns with the ministry’s strategic vision of leveraging science, innovation, and technology to enhance national competitiveness, drive rural transformation, and promote environmental sustainability.
He congratulated the authors and acknowledged the LIFEWS Foundation, the University of Abuja, and Oregon State University for their collaborative work in bringing the new technology to the country.
According to him, the ministry is also promoting indigenous development and manufacturing of solar agricultural technology.
He assured the stakeholders of the Ministry’s continued commitment to supporting scalable climate-smart innovations, such as agrivoltaics.
In his remarks, Gabriel Ayayia, the founder of LIFEWS Foundation and Author of the book, stated that the foundation introduced agrivoltaic farming as a new approach to farming, aiming to promote food sovereignty in the country.
Mr Ayayia said, “What we are promoting today is a new way of farming, which is climate-smart agriculture, climate-smart farming. So, instead of just farming in the traditional way, we are thinking of reimagining agricultural practices.”
