The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is finalizing preparations for the launch of the “Irrigate Nigeria” project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing mechanized farming and enabling at least three farming cycles annually.
Speaking on Kakaaki the African Voice, a live programme on African Independent Television (AIT), in Abuja on January 20, 2025, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil S. Halilu, outlined the project’s goals, and highlighted its potential to transform Nigerian agriculture by enabling farmers to achieve three harvests yearly.
Compared to the traditional single-season harvest, he emphasized this could address the ongoing food scarcity challenges in the country, saying the initiative would provide farmers with modern irrigation methods and equipment for dry-season farming.
He said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security agenda. NASENI has already tested this approach at its Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) greenhouse in Lafia, Nasarawa State, and plans to replicate it nationwide.
The project also focuses on promoting the use of locally made tools for farming and post-harvest processing, in addition to collaboration with Indonesia to establish a coal fertilizer factory, which also will soon be launched as well as partnering with the Czech Republic to assemble affordable mini tractors, to ensuring accessibility for small-scale farmers who cannot afford large tractors.
On renewable energy, Mr. Halilu noted that the Agency has upgraded its NASENI Solar Energy Company Ltd (NSEL) from 22 megawatts to 50 megawatts in 2024 and plans to further expand production capacity to over 100 megawatts in 2025 to meet growing demand.
Furthermore, the Agency is also constructing a Solar Industrial Park in Nasarawa State for electric vehicle (EV) assembly and continues to operate the NASENI/Portland CNG centre in Utako, the largest in the country.
These initiatives underscore the Agency’s commitment to advancing food security, renewable energy, and technological innovation in Nigeria.
