- Integrating solar power into farming can enhance productivity, increase incomes, and promote rural electrification.
- Strong policies and incentives are crucial for expanding agricultural solar systems across Nigeria.
Dr Femi Oye, Chief Executive Officer of SMEFUNDS, stated that clean energy offers a transformative path for agricultural productivity and sustainable development.
Emerging economies are rapidly expanding renewable deployment while boosting domestic production of solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles. Exports from China to Africa, Asia, and Latin America are accelerating this shift, making energy cleaner and more affordable.
Dr Oye emphasised that the renewable transition presents Africa with a unique opportunity to link agricultural growth with clean energy innovation. He called for greater support for private-sector initiatives that integrate solar power into farming systems. This integration, he explained, can increase farmers’ incomes and accelerate Nigeria’s energy transition.
Vietnam’s new Agri-PV project illustrates this potential, targeting ten pilot agricultural solar models between 2025 and 2027. Inspired by similar success stories, Oye highlighted Nigeria’s expanding solar industry as evidence of readiness for such innovations.
Integrating solar energy with farming could boost economic returns, promote gender inclusion, and strengthen rural resilience. He urged the Federal Government to work closely with private partners to explore Nigeria’s agricultural solar potential and design strategies for sustainable adoption.
However, he cautioned that policy gaps and inadequate incentives could slow progress. Manufacturers are already cutting costs for batteries and photovoltaic systems to drive adoption.
“Clean technology in agriculture is more than an environmental fix; it is an engine for economic empowerment,” Oye said. With affordable solar devices, electric cookers, and irrigation pumps, farmers can power their fields and fuel national growth.