Hope grows: Solar-powered irrigation revived farming dream

For over 30 years, Nester Ibzan, a 55-year-old farmer and trader from Demsa, Adamawa State, poured her heart into cultivating the land to support her family of eleven. Her journey has been one of resilience, braving the odds to keep food on the table. But in recent years, a wave of challenges almost drove her to give up.

Erratic rainfall. Skyrocketing fertilizer and fuel prices. The unrelenting grip of climate change. These forces conspired to push Nester ’s farming dreams to the brink.

“In 2022, I cultivated rice and maize on one hectare of land,” she recalls, her voice tinged with sorrow. “But most of the crops dried up due to lack of water, and the little that survived was destroyed by animals. I harvested almost nothing. I was so discouraged that I decided not to farm this year (2023).”

It was a breaking point. But just as Nester was about to turn her back on the soil she had tended for decades, hope arrived in the form of an intervention from the USAID-funded Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity (RRA).

Through its seed and input supply initiative, RRA distributed solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) to 30 farmer groups—benefiting 300 farmers in Adamawa State. Nester, a member of one of these groups, received this life-changing technology.

“The solar-powered irrigation system changed everything for me,” she says, her face lighting up with a smile. “Now, I don’t have to worry about water for my crops, and the money I save on fuel has helped me expand my fish business too.”

With consistent water supply and reduced costs, Nester reclaimed her farm with renewed determination. For the first time in years, her crops flourished. From her two-hectare plot, she harvested a bountiful 20 bags of grain, enough to feed her family and generate extra income to invest in her growing ventures.

But the transformation wasn’t just about the harvest—it was also about community. The solar-powered irrigation system united farmers who once struggled alone, fostering collaboration and shared knowledge.

“This system doesn’t just help me; it helps us all,” Nester says proudly.

Today, Nester’s story is a beacon of hope for her community, a testament to the power of innovation in transforming lives. With the support of RRA, she has not only rediscovered her confidence as a farmer but has also built the resilience needed to adapt to climate change.

Nester dreams of expanding her farm further, investing more in her fish business, and securing a brighter future for her children and grandchildren.

Her journey is proof that, with the right tools and support, even the toughest challenges can be overcome.