Husk will supply power to Olam Agri under a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA). (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Husk Power has announced a commercial and industrial (C&I) solar power project in Nigeria’s rice-producing region with foods group Olam Agri

Under the partnership, Husk will deploy a 1.3 MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system, integrated with an 860 kWh battery energy storage system (BESS), at Olam Agri’s rice operations in Rukubi, Nasarawa State.

The shift to solar power represents a step in Olam Agri’s efforts to cut diesel consumption and will continue the transition of agriculture to more sustainable energy infrastructure.

“The partnership with Olam Agri aligns with Husk’s broader goal of installing hundreds of MWs of C&I solar capacity in Nigeria and other regions of sub-Saharan Africa over the next five years,” said Olu Aruike, Husk’s country director.

Besides being the market leader in Nigeria’s community solar mini-grid industry, Husk is committed to partnering with commercial & industrial (C&I) businesses to decarbonise key sectors of Nigeria’s economy, including agriculture.”

Husk will supply power to Olam Agri under a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

The solar-battery hybrid system will enhance voltage stability, ensuring a reliable power supply while delivering fuel cost savings and substantially reducing carbon emissions.

This latest initiative builds on Olam Agri’s broader commitment to integrating sustainable energy across its operations in Nigeria and elsewhere.

In 2024, the Olam Agri rice farm introduced a solar farm to power its mill operations.

Beyond solar, the company is implementing additional energy-saving initiatives, including improving energy efficiency across its factories, adopting cleaner-burning fuels, and optimising production processes to minimise waste and emissions.

“Sustainability is at the heart of Olam Agri’s operations, and this partnership with Husk Power is a significant step towards reducing our carbon footprint while ensuring a stable and cost-effective energy supply,” said Anil Nair of Olam Agri in Nigeria.

“By transitioning to solar power, we are improving the efficiency of our rice production in Rukubi and contributing to Nigeria’s broader renewable energy goals. By implementing renewable energy solutions in Nigeria, Olam Agri is not just meeting its own needs but inspiring others to follow suit and help drive sustainability in the agricultural sector across Africa and beyond.”

The companies said in a statement that Nigeria’s government policies and regulations further support the partnership, encouraging private-sector investment in renewable energy and solar adoption in the industrial and agricultural sectors.

Nigeria’s C&I solar market is expanding, with over 550MW of new solar capacity set to be added between 2025 and 2029.

The programme has the potential to create more than 60,000 jobs in each of the pioneering states. (Image source: AfDB)

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the State government of Kaduna are kickstarting the construction of Phase 1 of the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme

The groundbreaking ceremony began on 8 April in Kaduna, where the chief guest, AfDB Group president, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, will join Nigeria’s vice president, Kashim Shettima, and the State Governor of Kaduna, Uba Sani. From Kaduna, Dr Adesina will head to Cross River State, where, together with the Federal Government and the State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu, a second groundbreaking ceremony will take place.  

The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme will boost Nigeria’s food production and reduction importation, generate jobs for youth, safeguard the country’s foreign exchange, and transform rural areas from areas of misery into zones of prosperity. The initiative will increase agricultural productivity by over 60%, reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen value chains from farm to market. The cities of Kaduna and Cross River will host the Agro-Industrial Hubs, Agricultural Transformation Centers, and Aggregation Centers in the production zones, which are the foundational building blocks of the SAPZ programme. 

The programme has the potential to create more than 60,000 jobs in each of the pioneering states.  The sites were strategically selected for their agricultural potential, infrastructure readiness, and prime geographical location, ensuring they drive Nigeria’s agro-industrial growth. 

The Synergen Guard range was in focus at CAC 2025, along with its new Dispersogen TP 100 T and the Sapogenat T range. (Image source: Clariant)

During the China International Agrochemical and Crop Protection Exhibition (CAC) that took place in Shangai from 17-19 March this year, Clariant unveiled next-gen solutions for biologicals and innovative approaches to sustaining plant health by optimising soil water management

With a growing global population and the challenges that climate change is posing to agriculture and food security, biologicals have emerged as a more sustainable alternative to conventional pesticides to enhance yields while using fewer resources. Clariant's Synergen Soil optimises water-use efficiency connected with sustainable agricultural practices and improves vertical and lateral water movement, thereby ensuring a consistent distribution of moisture. This not only promotes optimal growing conditions, but also supports healthy roots and maximises plants' potential for robust growth.

Also in focus at CAC 2025 was the Synergen Guard range, including Synergen Guard 100, a performance booster and rainfastness agent for biologicals. This innovative nano-emulsion-based tank-mix adjuvant contains renewable wax and is produced by a unique proprietary highly efficient emulsification technology. It is biocompatible with a broad range of microorganisms, giving a powerful boost in coverage, efficacy, and rain protection to the biocontrol agent. This innovative nano-emulsion-based tank-mix adjuvant contains renewable wax and is produced by a unique proprietary highly efficient emulsification technology. It is biocompatible with a broad range of microorganisms, giving a powerful boost in coverage, efficacy, and rain protection to the biocontrol agent.

Visitors were also able to find Clariant’s new Dispersogen TP 100 T and the Sapogenat T range display at CAC 2025. 

Dispersogen TP 100 T

This is a high-performance anionic dispersing agent for application in suspension concentrate (SC). As a universal SC dispersing agent, it can be used alone in conventional SC formulations with high cost-effectiveness, under a recommended dosage of around 3-5%. It can be used to solve common SC problems such as poor wetting, rapid growth of particle size, viscosity build-up, bad flowability, and even pseudoplastic and creaming issues.

Sapogenat T range

Designed as a replacement for nonylphenol ethoxolates (NPE), the Sapogenat T range functions as a functions as a non-ionic emulsifier based on tri-sec-butylphenol with various ethoxylation degrees. Considered the best-performing NPE alternative, it offers excellent emulsification power, making it a good wetter capable of increasing pesticide efficacy in foliar application.  

Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Initiatives are being undertaken to combat the challenges faced by rural women that are deeply rooted in structural inequalities

Although women dominate informal cross-border trade in Africa, making up 70% of informal traders in some regions, they face bureaucratic hurdles, high tariffs, corruption at border posts, and a lack of awareness regarding trade policies. Many high-value markets require certifications, packaging, and logistics—all of which require financial investment that rural women often lack. Without capital, they remain restricted to local markets where competition is high and profits are lower. 

Land ownership is another major hurdle. In many rural communities, land inheritance laws and cultural norms favor men, leaving women to farm on borrowed or leased land. This lack of ownership discourages long-term investments in soil improvement and productivity-enhancing innovations, keeping women in subsistence farming. Unstable markets further compound these issues. Without reliable price controls, rural women are often forced to sell their produce at low prices to avoid post-harvest losses. The absence of storage facilities and market linkages exacerbates this problem, with post-harvest losses estimated at 30-40% in sub-Saharan Africa.

Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach. Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, an African Union Special Envoy for Food Systems advises women farmers to form or join cooperatives, which can help them collectively bargain for better prices, access bulk purchasing discounts on inputs, and eliminate exploitative middlemen. Cooperatives should also develop digital marketplaces and mobile trading platforms where women can connect directly with buyers, ensuring fairer pricing. Governments, NGOs, and financial institutions must design gender-responsive credit facilities, including collateral-free loans and microfinance programmes tailored for women farmers. Expanding mobile banking and digital wallets to rural areas can facilitate transactions and savings. Additionally, financial literacy training should be introduced to help women under stand budgeting, credit management, and investment strategies.

Legal reforms that promote equal land ownership rights for women are crucial. Advocacy efforts should focus on ensuring that inheritance laws are equitable and that women farmers have secure land tenure, enabling them to make long-term investments in their farms. Governments and private sector players should invest in structured market systems, including farmer markets, digital trading platforms, and cold storage facilities. Participation in regional agricultural exhibitions and trade fairs should also be promoted to connect rural women with larger markets. Contract farming initiatives, where agribusiness firms engage directly with women farmers, can ensure fair pricing and market security. To enhance cross-border trade opportunities, trade regulations should be simplified, and training on trade policies and export procedures provided. Setting up cross-border trade facilitation desks can also offer guidance and protection against exploitation at borders. 

By empowering rural women farmers, implementing sustainable policies, strengthening access to credit, and ensuring better market integration, we can transform Africa’s agricultural landscape.