Co-Designing Scaling Pathways for Solar Irrigation Technology Ownership in Nigeria: Household Survey/Discrete Choice Experiment

This report examines pathways for scaling Solar-Based Irrigation Systems (SBIS) in northern Nigeria, using evidence from a household survey and a discrete-choice experiment conducted in Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states. Nigeria’s agricultural sector faces a dual climate challenge: increasing water insecurity and reliance on fossil-fuel-powered irrigation. SBIS offers a viable solution with strong economic benefits, yet adoption remains limited due to high upfront costs, rigid financing arrangements, and weak institutional support.

The study applies participatory methods and a five-stage discrete-choice experiment to identify farmers’ preferences for SBIS ownership models, mobility options, and financing mechanisms. Results reveal strong heterogeneity across states. Farmers in Kebbi and Kano, who are more resource-constrained and risk-averse, prefer shared ownership arrangements (2–3-member micro-clusters), fixed systems, and long-term financing—particularly Islamic finance and Bank of Agriculture two-year loans. In contrast, Kaduna farmers exhibit higher risk tolerance and liquidity, favouring individual ownership and mobile systems for security and commercial reasons. Across all states, one-year loans are consistently rejected, while harvest-aligned, multi-year financing significantly increases willingness to invest.

The report concludes that a “one‑size‑fits‑all” scaling strategy is inappropriate. Instead, it recommends a phased, context-specific approach that prioritizes immediate market de-risking through quality assurance, fiscal incentives, and pilot financing for micro clusters, followed by institutionalization through extension services, Islamic finance products, and investment in technical training and supply chains. These measures are essential to ensure inclusive, sustainable, and climate‑resilient scaling of solar irrigation in Nigeria.