FG to initiate solar pumps for agricultural projects
Story from Abah ADAH, Abuja
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Fadama Development Project (NFDP) to collaborate on several activities during the planning and implementation of electrification programmes targeted at agriculture, land and water resources.
According to a statement issued by the power agency on Thursday, the MoU is also expected to consider the Agency’s recently-launched Energizing Agricultural Programme (EAP).
The EAP is a three-year initiative with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, that aims to stimulate the use of mini-grid electricity in agricultural productive uses. These “Agro-Energy” programmes are intended to provide electricity for productive use and unlock the economic potential/activities in rural and agrarian communities alike.
So far, the Agency has communicated to and cooperated with stakeholders during the pre-implementation stage, including support in conducting desktop and field surveys to identify viable sites.
The other stakeholders include the At-Risk Children Programme (ARC-P) and National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, (NCFRMI).
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The National Fadama Development Project, is an agriculture programme, under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and in collaboration with The World Bank, designed to increase the incomes of the users of land and water resources on a sustainable basis.
More specifically, and in line with REA’s proposed agro-energy programmes, the NFDP’s component 2 (Small Scale Community Owned Infrastructure) aims to rehabilitate surface water and construct new small-scale irrigation schemes and borehole schemes, as well as other groundwater irrigation schemes and infrastructure support.
“REA intends to provide decentralised solar pumps and/or centralised solar mini-grids to viable FADAMA irrigation schemes,” the statement added.
Explaining further, the statement said, “Previously, the agency proposed a framework to internalise planned electrification programmes into the national budgeting process, highlighting funding sources and partnerships, and designing an integrated approach to ensure that the ERGP/ESP targets are fulfilled”.
“Sequel to the approval and inclusion in the year 2022 budget, the Agency intends to implement the framework to improve livelihoods, specifically in rural communities, through programmes targeted at providing electricity for productive use in healthcare centres, markets, schools, agriculture, etc.
The framework, underpinned by the MoU between both parties, is expected to be implemented in a sustainable and impactful manner, while also addressing one of the agency’s strategic objectives – to promote electricity consumption for “productive use” in the country.
“The MoU will mutually benefit both the REA and FADAMA. Both parties are keen to unlock the economic potential in agrarian communities, through the provision of electricity solutions for agro-processing and irrigation schemes”.
REA noted that the MoU would ensure timely communication and cooperation during the implementation stage of the programme, including support (where applicable) in conducting field surveys, monitoring/supervision and impact assessments.
It assured that the agro-energy programme, as well as other proposed programmes under the framework, would be implemented to demonstrate opportunities for the private sector.
REA is an implementation agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, under the Ministry of Power, FMP, primarily tasked with improving electrification in unserved and underserved communities.
