AGRA Nigeria in partnership with agricultural technology company ThriveAgric, has officially commissioned a solar-powered borehole system and launched an innovative farmer-managed Productive Use of Energy (PUE) equipment model across the Bosso and Gbako Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Niger State.
The initiative, deployed under the “Strengthening Farmers Resilience Through Climate Smart Grain Production and Accessing the Structured Markets in Nigeria” (STREFAS) project, addresses critical post-harvest and irrigation bottlenecks for smallholders cultivating rice, maize, soybeans, and sorghum.
By introducing clean energy infrastructure, the intervention aims to completely eliminate dependence on erratic rainfall patterns, expand dry-season farming, and slash post-harvest losses by up to 40%.
The event marks a major milestone under the STREFAS Project aimed at building climate resilience, promoting regenerative agriculture, and linking smallholder farmers to formal markets across Nigeria.
The field day, held across communities in Bosso and Gbako Local Government Areas (LGAs), brought together government officials, development partners, agricultural experts, and smallholder farmers. Key highlights included the official commissioning of a Solar-Powered Borehole System in Maitumbi Community and live demonstrations of Productive Use of Energy (PUE) technologies — Solar Irrigation Pumps, Solar Multi-Grain Threshers, and Solar Bubble Dryers — at the ThriveAgric Warehouse in Talba Market.
This intervention addresses critical climate vulnerabilities faced by grain producers in Northern Nigeria. By equipping farmers with clean, solar-powered solutions, the project enables year-round irrigation, drastically reduces post-harvest losses, improves produce quality, and supports the shift from subsistence farming to commercially viable, climate-resilient operations.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Niger State represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mathew Ahmed praised the initiative:“The Niger State Government highly commends AGRA and ThriveAgric for this timely intervention. This partnership is a vital step in our climate change mitigation efforts, protecting farmers against seasonal dry spells while modernizing agriculture, safeguarding rural livelihoods, and ensuring long-term food security.”
AGRA’s Country Director, Mr. Rufus Idris represented by Programme Officer, Dr. Esther Ibrahim, highlighted the broader impact:“This initiative reflects our shared commitment with ThriveAgric and government partners to build resilient food systems. By investing in solar-powered irrigation and post-harvest technologies, we are empowering smallholder farmers — particularly women and youth — to withstand climate shocks, move beyond subsistence, and thrive in inclusive and competitive markets.”
ThriveAgric’s Vice President of Product & Innovation, Sula Bello, added:
“True innovation future-proofs the farm. By integrating clean energy into farmers’ operations, we are empowering them to scale productivity while building a sustainable, climate-resilient food system.”
To date, the STREFAS Project has reached over 8,000 farmers across six LGAs in the region, facilitated the planting of over 20,000 trees under the agroforestry initiative, aggregated more than 15,000 metric tonnes of grains for structured markets, and created employment opportunities for youth as last-mile extension agents.
The launch was officiated by the Commissioner for Agriculture, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mathew Ahmed, underscoring the strong public-private collaboration driving agricultural transformation in Niger State.
This solar-powered PUE deployment complements other components of the STREFAS Project, including skills training for women processors in Nasarawa State, where participants are now producing high-quality value-added products such as Tom Brown, Kunun Tsamiya, beans flour, and chilli powder — significantly increasing incomes and reducing post-harvest losses.
The project is supported by a coalition of partners – the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, German Cooperation, KfW Development Bank, The Rockefeller Foundation, and UK International Development.