The Chief Executive of SMEFUNDS, Dr. Femi Oye, has urged the Federal Government and private investors to back large-scale solar-powered agricultural solutions, noting that such support would significantly empower smallholder farmers and agro-SMEs across Nigeria.
His call follows the launch of the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Ethiopia and Kenya—a model he believes Nigeria urgently needs to adopt.
The SoLAR initiative, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), goes beyond solar irrigation to introduce a suite of solar technologies such as cold rooms, dryers, milling machines, and agro-processing equipment. Dr. Oye said these innovations lower production costs, cut post-harvest losses, and create new income opportunities—benefits that would greatly boost Nigeria's SME-driven agricultural sector.
"We have the sunshine, we have the demand, and the technology is already working globally. Nigeria needs policies and private investments that will power farmlands and strengthen agribusinesses," he said.
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IWMI officials noted that countries like Kenya and Ethiopia face similar challenges to Nigeria—under-used irrigation land, inefficient systems, and rising demand for modern technology. According to Inga Jacobs-Mata, IWMI's Strategic Program Director for Water, Growth and Inclusion, solar systems can make food production more efficient, climate-resilient, and inclusive.
The SoLAR project aims to provide evidence to shape policy, improve financing options, and make solar solutions affordable for farmers—including women, youth, and marginalized groups.
Dr. Oye emphasized that Nigeria must act quickly to avoid wasting millions of hectares of farmland due to lack of power for irrigation and processing. He called for strong collaboration between government agencies, private financiers, and farmer-support organizations.
He also encouraged the adoption of a "living labs" model, where farmers and partners test and refine solar technologies to suit local needs—an approach he believes will help Nigeria build a climate-smart, productive, and SME-driven agricultural future.
