Members of the Africa’s Green Store Network (AGSN), in partnership with the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), have called for the adoption of small-scale solar irrigation systems by local farmers to address the effects of climate change and improve food sufficiency across Africa.
Speaking during the opening of a five-day training conference held at ARMTI’s headquarters in Ilorin, from September 9 to 13, 2024, Executive Director of ARMTI, Dr. Olufemi Oladunni, stressed the importance of extending solar irrigation technology to local farmers to enhance agricultural productivity.
Participants at the event include experts from 15 African countries and Europe, including Nigeria, Benin, Algeria, and Mozambique, as well as agencies such as Humboldt Universitat, Zuberlin, Germany, SLE, and GIZ.
Dr. Oladunni emphasized the increasing need for irrigation in southern Nigeria due to prolonged droughts, adding that climate change, alongside insecurity, poses a significant challenge to food security in Africa.
“Natural resources are depleting rapidly, and we need to focus on rebuilding our resource base to ensure food sufficiency and boost exports across Africa,” he noted.
At the heart of the conference was the promotion of solar-powered irrigation systems, in a presentation titled Water and Energy: Efficient Solar Irrigation Systems in Africa, Professor John Olaoye from the University of Ilorin highlighted solar irrigation as a critical tool to mitigate the impact of climate change.
He stressed the need for the technology to be simplified for rural farmers, allowing them to manage water resources effectively and supplement inadequate rainfall.
Professor John Jiya Musa, from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, emphasized that government policies play a key role in the adaptation of solar-powered irrigation.
He called for capacity building at the grassroots level, advocating for the integration of foreign and local technologies to ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
Both experts agreed that strong collaboration between the government and researchers is essential to address Africa’s food security challenges and harness the continent’s abundant natural resources to feed not only the region but also the rest of Africa.