The Rural Electrification Agency says the recent deployment of mini-grid solar power installation across the country, especially in areas with potential for agricultural activities, is targeted at boosting agricultural production and alleviating the burden posed by the removal of fuel subsidy.
REA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ahmad Salihijo, disclosed this in Gurin, Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State, on Friday during the inspection of the 100KW solar mini-grid power plant built by the agency through a private developer Cloud Energy Photoelectric Limited.
The project, in Gurin, a big agricultural community in terms of rice processing, is one out of six other similar solar power installation systems provided by REA under its Mass Electrification for Poverty Reduction Programme to support productive enterprise around agricultural clusters.
According to the REA boss, the idea behind the installation of the mini-grid to Gurin is to provide power for processing so that the Rice Miller’s dependency on petrol will be reduced.
He said, “The system is designed to prioritise productive users, including agro-processing businesses, homes and public spaces.
“The key is to ensure that this project goes to communities that have existing economic activities so that they are able to afford and use the power. The purpose is to boost agricultural productivity of the country.”
