Heifer Nigeria has launched a finance leasing guarantee scheme that gives farmers access to solar-powered irrigation pumps that help all-year-round farming regardless of weather conditions.

At the launch of the project in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the Country Director of Heifer in Nigeria, Dr Lekan Tobe, explained that the irrigation technology utilises solar energy to power the pumps, eliminating reliance on traditional energy sources and cutting down farmers’ operational costs.

A statement on Tuesday said Heifer’s SPIPs finance leasing project would provide smallholder farmers with access to new irrigation technology to support their farming throughout the year.

This, it said, would enhance their capacity to increase productivity, earn increased income, and improve their livelihoods, aiding self-reliance and making them contribute more to national development

The statement read, “Farmers can easily access the SPIPs through a lease-to-own model operated by a private vendor facilitated by Heifer Nigeria. They can make a small down payment and spread the balance in installments over two years, after which they own the SPIP outright.

“With the SPIPs finance leasing project, farmers in Ogun State would be able to overcome climate change, droughts, and unpredictable rainfall patterns, which are increasingly impacting crop yields and food security and posing a significant threat to agriculture in Nigeria.”

The director, Tobe, described the project as an innovative and promising sustainable alternative to conventional electricity and diesel-based pumping systems.

https://punchng.com/firm-unveils-solar-powered-irrigation-financing-scheme-in-ogun/