REA, FADAMA sign MoU for Agriculture, water resources programmes electrification

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By Onu Okorie

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. This was made known in a statement made available to the media yesterday in Abuja.

Speaking on the development, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, REA Mr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad explained that 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.

According to him, “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”.

“The MoU will 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.

Also Executive Director, Technical Services, REA Barka Sajou said that subsequently the agro-energy programme, as well as other proposed programmes under the framework, will be implemented to demonstrate opportunities for the private sector.

And based on the lessons learned, viable agriculture-energy solutions and business models can be adopted and scaled commercially.

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 and cooperated with stakeholders during the pre-implementation stage, including support in conducting desktop and field surveys to identify viable sites.

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 National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) are a Federal Government Agency mandated to provide assistance, durable solutions and support to persons of concern, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Refugees, Migrants, Asylum Seekers, Stateless Persons, as well as Returnees. REA intends to provide Solar Home Systems (SHS) and Solar Street Lights (SSLs) to viable IDP communities.