News Investigators/ The National Economic Council (NEC) has endorsed solar-powered irrigation pumps produced by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for national rollout ahead of the 2025 dry season farming.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NASENI solar irrigation pump, produced to replace the petrol-powered pumps, were aimed at reinforcing the nation’s food security strategy.
They are also expected to increase agricultural productivity, lower operational cost, higher incomes and improve livelihoods.
At its 152nd meeting held on Thursday at Presidential Villa, Abuja, NEC endorsed the use of the solar irrigation pumps and resolved to adequately notify President Bola Tinubu for his approval.
The council also mandated the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, to work out the modalities of funding to enable NASENI to mass produce the solar irrigation pumps.
In his remark, the Chairman of the council, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said the scaled-up solar irrigation pumps were an indication that Nigerians can compete at the global level with their creativity.
“We must also face the challenge of innovation in agriculture. NASENI’s scaled-up solar irrigation pumps are ready for national rollout ahead of the 2025 dry season.
” These pumps replace expensive petrol-powered systems, lower farmers’ costs, expand dry-season cultivation, and even provide backup power for households.
“Their advanced features, including GPS tracking, mobile app dashboards, usage monitoring, and pay-as-you-go integration, prove that Nigerian ingenuity can compete with the world,” he stated.
Shettima said the innovation by NASENI would not only boost food security but also unlock carbon credit opportunities” for farmers across the country.
He hinted at other efforts by the Tinubu administration to ensure food security, saying, “recently, 250,000 farmers had been insured across eight states.”
Shettima further said that the 30 per cent Value Addition Bill was advancing, and the N250 billion Bank of Agriculture facility was being activated to reach smallholders.
He said, ” the Green Imperative Project with Brazil is being repositioned for financing, while the World Bank-backed AGROW programme is mapping priority value chains for roll-out.
“The Harvesting Hope Caravan has reached half a million citizens in eight states, building trust and grassroots mobilisation.
“These are lifelines to farmers and proof that NEC’s decisions resonate beyond these chambers.”
NAN
