At dawn, Hayin Gada awakens with the quiet hum of labour. A sloping stretch of farmland beyond the Numan Bridge in Adamawa State, northeastern Nigeria, it is a place shaped by water—both a giver of life and a relentless force of destruction. From a distance, the landscape is a patchwork of ridges and rice beds, stretching toward the horizon. Farmers walk across the fields every morning, carrying solar panels and pumping machines. They set up their equipment, tilting the panels toward the rising sun, waiting for it to breathe life into their irrigation systems.

Among them is 40-year-old Joseph Pwanangingan, carefully gripping the edges of three solar panels as he steps between the narrow beds of his five-hectare farm. Before connecting them to a pumping machine, he secures the panels onto a fixed stand. As the first rays of sunlight soak into the panels, the machine hums to life, drawing water from shallow wells and spilling it over the thirsty rice plants.

For the first time in years, Joseph feels a sense of control over his farm. But it was not always like this. A few seasons ago, he was on the verge of quitting entirely. The Gongola River, swollen by intensified rainfall linked to climate change, spills over its banks each rainy season, drowning Joseph’s crops. 

A 2021 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that rising global temperatures intensify rainfall, making extreme weather events like flooding more severe. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency also reported that seasonal flooding is worsening in the region, urging farmers to adapt through alternative techniques like irrigation farming. 

However, these warnings had already become a reality for Joseph and his fellow farmers. By the time the waters receded, the damage was irreversible.

Rain-fed farming became a risk too great to take. Like many others in Hayin Gada, Joseph turned to irrigation. At first, he relied on a petrol-powered generator, but when fuel prices surged beyond affordability, that too became unsustainable. He needed another solution.

“I switched to solar this season,” he told HumAngle. “It has made farming easier and cheaper.”

‘Harnessing the sun’

The initial push came from a small group of farmers willing to take the risk. Some accessed loans, while others scraped their savings to invest in solar-powered pumps. Soon, as the dry season set in, the results spoke for themselves.

“Several farmers are adopting this initiative. It is becoming common,” Joseph said. “Those still using generators sometimes borrow our solar panels and connect them to their pumping machines.”

“People are gradually understanding the benefits, especially the money they save on petrol,” Usman Bose, an independent solar technology dealer in Numan, added.

Instead of burning cash on fuel, these farmers harness the sun to pump water from boreholes and rivers into their fields. Costs dropped, productivity soared, and harvests flourished. The transformation was impossible to ignore.

“Switching to solar has really simplified my farming. It has helped me save costs,” Joseph said. “The money I would have spent on fuel is now invested elsewhere.”

The local market has also seen the change. 

“Since farming costs have dropped, food prices in the market have reduced. A bag of local rice now sells for ₦30,000 [$19.42], compared to ₦70,000–₦100,000 [$45.32–$64.74] last season,” Joseph told HumAngle. 

Kingsley Dunka, a 25-year-old farmer from the same community, also said he used to rely on petrol to irrigate his three-hectare rice farm. With his ₦470,000 [$304.26] solar irrigation setup, he spends almost nothing on energy.

“Other than pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers, I no longer spend on the farm. I even rent it out to neighbours at ₦2,000 [$1.29] from morning to evening,” he added. “Solar is simple and easier to operate.”

More importantly, this shift is reducing agriculture’s dependence on fossil fuels. Petrol and diesel-powered pumps contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating global warming. By switching to solar, farmers are not just saving costs but reducing their carbon footprint.

According to a 2021 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, solar irrigation is one of the most effective ways to reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint. A separate study by the Food and Agriculture Organisation found that solar-powered irrigation systems can boost agricultural productivity in the Sahel and reduce carbon emissions compared to fossil fuel-powered pumps.

High cost, theft, and awareness

Despite the overwhelming benefits, not every farmer in Imburu has been able to transition to solar energy. The biggest barrier is cost.

While solar-powered pumps eliminate long-term fuel expenses, the upfront investment is significant. 

“Not everybody can afford it,” Joseph admitted. 

A complete setup, including solar panels, batteries, and inverters, can cost between ₦300,000 ($194.21) and ₦700,000 ($453.15). Many farmers simply cannot afford it on their own.

“Some people get it on loan, but not everyone has that option,” he added. With no government subsidies or donor support, many are left behind.

Still, demand is growing. Usman told HumAngle that 90 per cent of his recent customers have been farmers. “We recorded a huge increase in sales between November 2024 and March of this year,” he said. “I project that the prices may be higher than this by the end of the year.”

But cost is not the only challenge—some farmers are sceptical.

“Another challenge is awareness,” Usman said. “People are used to fuel-powered generators. When we first tried to explain it to farmers, there was mistrust—there still is. Some are yet to understand the benefits of using solar energy.”

To address this, Usman sometimes provides panels on credit.

“We let them test the panels, and once they see the difference, they come back to pay,” he said. “We even go to their farms and install them.”

However, maintenance remains a problem.

“Some farmers mishandle the equipment, allowing water to reach the inverter or controller, which damages the system,” Usman said. “We try to educate them, but it’s an ongoing challenge.”

Beyond cost and awareness, theft is another major hurdle. Solar panels, batteries, and inverters have become prime targets for thieves, forcing farmers to take extra precautions.

They dismantle their panels every evening and haul them home. “Transporting the panels to the farm daily is stressful,” Dunka added. “They are heavy, and a single person cannot carry them.”

It is a tedious but necessary routine.

“A few days ago, someone’s panels were taken from a nearby farm,” Joseph said. 

Farming in the face of climate change

Climate change is reshaping agriculture in Adamawa. Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall have intensified flooding, making traditional farming unsustainable. The transition to irrigation was a necessity, not a choice.

However, fossil fuel-dependent irrigation is not a viable long-term solution. Petrol and diesel generators contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, worsening climate change. A recent report by the International Energy Agency found that agriculture accounted for 16.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide to global greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, largely due to its reliance on fossil fuels. By switching to solar energy, farmers like Joseph and Dunka are not just reducing costs but also cutting their carbon footprint.

Yet, the transition remains challenging. “There is no government, [non-governmental] organisations, or individuals support,” Joseph said. A lack of financing options and the risk of vandalism threaten to slow the adoption of solar technology. While many farmers recognise the benefits, high costs keep them reliant on outdated and expensive methods.

‘We need support’

Despite the hurdles, one thing is clear: solar-powered irrigation is transforming farming in Adamawa. More farmers are embracing it, and local organisations are beginning to recognise its potential for sustainable agriculture.

“I would recommend everyone to use solar,” Joseph said. “But we need support. Solar irrigation would take over completely if the government or NGOs provided more funding or subsidies. Imagine if every farmer could afford it. We would have enough food, and farming would not be a struggle.”

Experts agree that adopting clean energy in agriculture is vital in the fight against climate change. The African Development Bank emphasises that solar-powered irrigation is not just an economic solution but also a critical tool for food security and climate resilience in Africa. Similarly, the United Nations’ Food Systems Summit in 2023 highlighted that transitioning to renewable energy in agriculture is one of the most effective strategies for mitigating climate change.

For now, Joseph and other farmers in Imburu continue to rise with the sun, harnessing its power as they haul their panels to and from their farms each day, securing their livelihoods—one solar-powered pump at a time.

Additional reporting by Saduwo Banyawa