Energising Agriculture Programme

Enhancing the viability of mini-grids and the impact of electrification through agriculture.

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Energizing Agriculture Programme (EAP) - Objectives

Agriculture is the largest sector in rural areas and across Nigeria and is, hitherto, yet to be explicitly targeted by electrification efforts.

The EAP aims to stimulate the productive use of minigrid electricity in agriculture by enabling market-led solutions and breaking the silos separating electrification and agricultural development programmes. The programme will build upon existing agriculture and electrification initiatives in Nigeria and then accelerate the deployment and adoption of the most effective solutions for rural communities across the country. It will do this by bringing together teams of local partners to test commercially led business models, debug appliances, and scale proven solutions.

  • Accelerate deployment of agriculture electrification interventions by convening teams to test business models and debug appliances across minigrid sites.
  • Scale proven solutions to 200 communities by supporting participating businesses raise financing and identifying growth opportunities.
  • Break agriculture and electrification silos to create a pipeline of agriculture energy projects and develop pilot projects.
  • Ensure local ownership of solutions and scaling by partnering and sharing insights broadly.
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In collaboration with:
Supported by:

Agriculture is the economic backbone of rural Nigerian communities where minigrids are the least-cost electrification option. Experts estimate that Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which provides nearly one quarter of the country’s GDP and employs two-thirds of the labor force, has the potential to generate $40 billion in exports. In a 2020 feasibility study, RMI and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) found an immediate opportunity to power cassava, rice, and cereal grain processing with minigrid electricity, allowing equipment owners to earn attractive rates of return over the lifetime of the equipment. Using electricity to power opportunities like these can drive a virtuous cycle for rural development by increasing incomes and community resilience and improving the financial performance of the minigrid utility.

Setting the Context – AMP in REA's Strategy

Four priority areas in REA’s 5-year Vision and Strategic Roadmap

1. Implement and Coordinate

Increasing Sector Coordination

02. Promote a Sustainable Market

Enabling Electricity Markets

03. Focus on the Unserved and Underserved

Reaching Communities and Increasing Economic Opportunity

04. Excellence in Delivery and Talent

Shaping REA into a Top-Tier Agency

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