As part of its core mandate of strengthening innovative systems in the country, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has deployed modern solar-powered irrigation systems in Gabasawa and Kumbotso Local Government Areas of Kano State to boost food production.

The initiative, implemented in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), is aimed at reducing farmers’ dependence on petrol and diesel-powered water pumps, which have become increasingly expensive to operate.

Unveiling the technology at the irrigation sites in the two local government areas, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Engineer Khalil Sulaiman Halilu, said the intervention was designed to provide farmers with affordable, reliable and environmentally friendly irrigation solutions.

Halilu represented by the Director of Technical Services, Engineer Dr Emmanuel A. Ajani, explained that the deployment of the technology intended to ease the burden of irrigation on farmers through reduction of energy costs and sustainable source of power for agricultural activities.

According to him, the Federal Government was committed to deploying science, technology and engineering innovations to address challenges confronting the agricultural sector and strengthen food security.

Also speaking, Dr Adebayo Oke of IWMI, based in Accra, Ghana, said the organisation was collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure that farmers were adequately trained on the operation and effective utilisation of the solar-powered irrigation systems.

He said the project was designed to promote the adoption of modern and sustainable irrigation technologies, particularly among farmers in areas where access to affordable energy remains a major challenge.

Dr Oke added that proper understanding and management of the technology by farmers would be critical to ensuring its sustainability and maximising its benefits.

In his remarks, one of the KARNDA officials in Kumbotso Local Government Area, Alhaji Musa Yahaya, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a significant intervention that could strengthen agricultural activities and improve farmers’ productivity in the state.

He said the Kano State Government was ready to support initiatives aimed at reducing the cost of agricultural production and improving the livelihoods of farmers.

Some farmers who witnessed the demonstration in Kumbotso and Gabasawa expressed optimism that the technology would significantly reduce their dependence on petrol and diesel-powered irrigation pumps.

They said lower energy costs would enable them to increase their cultivated areas, improve irrigation efficiency and reduce overall farming expenses.

The demonstration was conducted at the Fadamar Ruwan Tsamiya irrigation site in Zakirai, Gabasawa Local Government Area, and Tudun Kaba, near the river, in Kumbotso Local Government Area.

The initiative is expected to promote year-round farming, increase food production, reduce agricultural production costs and improve the livelihoods of farmers across Kano State.