The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is planning to unveil its “Irrigate Nigeria” project soon. “Irrigate Nigeria” is a transformative initiative designed to enhance mechanized farming and enable farmers to achieve three farming cycles annually.
Speaking on a live television program aired on African Independent Television (AIT) in Abuja, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Mr. Khalil S. Halilu, emphasized the project’s potential to revolutionize Nigerian agriculture.
Mr. Halilu said “This initiative will enable farmers to have three harvests in a year, compared to the traditional single-season harvest,” explaining that the project aims to tackle the country’s ongoing food scarcity by providing farmers with modern irrigation techniques and equipment for dry-season farming.
He furthermore revealed that NASENI has already tested the concept at its Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) greenhouse in Lafia, Nasarawa State and will now be expanded nationwide to ensure broader adoption.
The project will prioritize the use of locally manufactured tools for farming and post-harvest processing.
Additionally, he mentioned that NASENI is collaborating with Indonesia to establish a coal fertilizer factory, which is expected to launch soon.
He also stated, “We are also partnering with the Czech Republic to assemble affordable mini tractors, ensuring accessibility for small-scale farmers who cannot afford large tractors.”
Apart from agriculture, Mr. Halilu also highlighted that NASENI is making strides in renewable energy making reference to the Agency’s recent upgrade of the NASENI Solar Energy Company Ltd (NSEL) from 22 megawatts to 50 megawatts in 2024, with plans to expand production capacity to over 100 megawatts in 2025 to meet growing demand.
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, which remains the largest in the country.
In conclusion, he stated that “These initiatives reflect NASENI’s dedication to advancing food security, renewable energy, and technological innovation in Nigeria.”