The Federal Government is exploring partnerships to expand access to affordable irrigation pumps for millions of smallholder farmers as part of efforts to promote year-round farming and strengthen food security.
The initiative aims to make affordable irrigation solutions more accessible to farmers and unlock the potential of dry-season agriculture across Nigeria.
The discussions followed a presentation by KickStart, a leading irrigation company, to the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Minister’s official engagements in Rome, focused on practical, low-cost irrigation solutions that could reach farmers at the grassroots without relying heavily on government subsidies.
During the presentation, KickStart showcased its experience in distributing smallholder irrigation pumps across sub-Saharan Africa, including manual water pumps and a planned, lower-cost solar-powered option designed specifically for African smallholder farmers.
According to the company, its irrigation pumps have helped transform dry-season farming for thousands of farmers in East and Southern Africa, enabling them to cultivate high-value vegetables and increase their incomes by up to three times.
Discussions also addressed key factors affecting the adoption of irrigation technology in Nigeria, including affordability, water output, farmer training, equipment maintenance, local dealer networks and rental models that could improve access for low-income farmers.
Senator Kyari emphasised that achieving food security in Nigeria requires farmers to produce crops beyond the rainy season, stressing that access to affordable irrigation is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
The meeting further explored the possibility of developing a joint government-donor funding proposal with plans for follow-up engagements involving relevant climate finance stakeholders to reduce investment risks and make the pumps more affordable for farmers.
As part of the next steps, both parties agreed to conduct a technical assessment of available pump options, identify suitable states and farmer groups for a pilot programme and develop partnerships for farmer training, equipment maintenance and local distribution.
The proposed initiative is expected to improve access to irrigation technology, enabling more Nigerian farmers to cultivate crops throughout the year and increase agricultural productivity.
If successfully implemented, the partnership could boost dry-season food production, improve farmers’ incomes, create rural employment opportunities and help ease food price pressures across the country.
