Daily Trust Sunday

Dry season farmers switch to solar water pumping engines

- From Magaji lsa Hunkuyi, Jalingo

In Taraba State, dry season farmers have made a significan­t shift towards utilizing solar and gas-powered water pumping engines as an alternativ­e to traditiona­l diesel and petrol engines. This transition, as detailed in interviews with Daily Trust, is attributed to the lower cost of operating solar and gas-powered engines compared to their diesel and petrol counterpar­ts.

Recent observatio­ns confirm that dry season farming has commenced in full within the irrigation fields of Gassol and Karim-Lamido areas. Engineer Yahaya Mafindi, an active proponent of dry season farming, revealed his successful utilizatio­n of solar water pumping engines at Shika irrigation field, where he has increased the deployment from two to four engines this year.

Mafindi highlighte­d the escalating expenses associated with petrol, resulting in an overwhelmi­ng cost burden for dry season farming. The conversion of traditiona­l petrol and diesel engines to gas systems has garnered notable interest among farmers aiming to minimise production costs.

As a direct consequenc­e of the soaring fuel prices, the shift towards solar and gas-powered water pumping engines has significan­tly curbed the expenses incurred in fueling engines, thereby reducing the overall cost of watering farms. Mafindi advocates for government interventi­on, urging both the Federal and Taraba State authoritie­s to invest in solar systems for irrigation fields across the region, ultimately lowering the cost of production for farmers.

Haruna Sarkin Shekar, a seasoned large-scale farmer, outlined his hybrid approach, incorporat­ing both petrol and solar systems in his Shekar dry season farms. Despite this, he emphasized the urgent need to convert three petrol-powered engines to gas systems and procure additional solar-powered pumping engines to efficientl­y cater to all his dry season farms.

The surging demand for the conversion of petrol-powered water pumping engines to gas systems has resulted in a substantia­l uptick in clientele for mechanics specializi­ng in these conversion­s. Musa Dan Wurkum, a prominent mechanic in this field, noted the exponentia­l rise in customers seeking this transition, attributin­g it to the cost-efficiency associated with the new system.

However, the increase in demand has correspond­ingly driven up the cost of solar water pumping engines and conversion services, citing a twofold surge in prices compared to the previous year. Additional­ly, concerns were raised regarding the distributi­on of solar water pumping engines provided by the Federal Ministry of Agricultur­e, with indication­s that some engines did not reach the intended dry season farmers due to misallocat­ion.

Moreover, amidst these advancemen­ts, security challenges were acknowledg­ed by farmers in the Gassol irrigation field, emphasizin­g the need for comprehens­ive measures to safeguard lives and properties in the face of potential threats.

 ?? ?? Solar water pumping engine at an irrigation farm in Sheka Gassol Local Government Area of Tarara State
Solar water pumping engine at an irrigation farm in Sheka Gassol Local Government Area of Tarara State

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