With the recent removal of fuel subsidies, dry season farmers in Taraba State are navigating innovative paths to sustain their agricultural operations.
Faced with the escalating costs of diesel and petrol, these farmers are increasingly turning to solar and gas-driven water pumping machines as a viable solution.
Investigations have shown that these alternative technologies prove to be more cost-effective compared to traditional water pumps reliant on diesel and petrol.
Mallam Ibrahim, a prominent large-scale farmer, reflected on the challenges faced last year, where substantial amounts were spent on fueling water pump engines for irrigation.
“The rising costs of diesel and petrol had a cascading effect on production expenses, leading to diminished profits for farmers.”
Ibrahim who spoke with DAILY POST over the weekend in Jalingo, the state capital, said the innovation is a welcome development for all dry season farmers in Taraba State, emphasizing the necessity of adapting to more sustainable practices.
Despite the availability of fuel subsidy last year, dry season farmers grappled with substantial fuel expenses, deterring many from engaging in dry season farming.
With the recent removal of fuel subsidies, concerns grew among farmers as they anticipated even higher expenses this year.
The adoption of solar and gas-driven water pump engines, they said, emerges as a necessity to mitigate the financial strain.
Yahaya Mafindi, another dry season farmer, shared his positive experience with solar water pumping machines in his Sheka irrigation farm last year.
He anticipates further cost reductions with the integration of gas and car battery-driven water pump engines alongside solar systems.
Explaining the process, Yahaya highlighted that farmers only need to purchase a water pumping engine.
He disclosed that local mechanics in Jalingo offer conversion services to gas, solar, or battery systems, eliminating the need for costly petrol or diesel to irrigate farms.
This innovative approach, which gained traction in other states since last year, the farmers claimed, is now gaining momentum among irrigation farmers in Taraba State.
Faced with a lack of government subsidies for farming activities, farmers in the region are actively seeking means to cut production costs.
The adoption of these new technologies is seen as a crucial step towards ensuring the economic viability of dry season farming.
Yahaya emphasized that without these alternative approaches, irrigation farming is at risk of decline in Taraba State and the broader Northern part of Nigeria, where farmers struggle to afford the soaring costs of petrol and diesel.
