Operationalisation of low-carbon energy for sustainable agricultural production among smallholder women farmers in Nigeria

Abstract

• Smallholder women farmers used low-carbon energy (LCE) for drying farm output, lighting and heating pens. • The installation cost of LCE was higher than that of high carbon energy (HCE). However, the cost of HCE increased by 595.24 % in the fifth year while LCE did not. • The users of LCE had a higher output and income than the users of HCE. • The high installation cost and lack of credit and subsidy for LCE militate against its adoption by women farmers. The use of high-carbon energy (HCE) causes adverse effects on the environment and sustainable food production. Yet, low-carbon energy (LCE) use among women farmers is missing in the literature. Therefore, this study investigates the operationalization of LCE use for sustainable agricultural production among smallholder women farmers in Nigeria. Data collected from randomly selected 350 women farmers were analysed using descriptive statistics, t -tests, and an economics cost model. The results revealed that the women farmers were aware of LCE and used LCE for drying farm output, lighting and heating pens. The average cost of ownership and installation of LCE (solar power systems) by women farmers was N 500,000 (USD 510.20) while the cost of ownership/installation of generators was N 210,000 (USD 214.29). In the first period, the cost of installing the solar system was higher than that of installing fossil generators by the HCE users. The economic cost model showed that the LCE remained at N 500,000 (USD 510.20) while HCE was put at N 1,250,000 (USD 1,275.51) in the fifth year. The output of the LCE user (7,108.47 kg) was significantly higher than the users of HCE (4,446.84 kg). In the same vein, users of LCE had a higher income of N 1,246,536 (USD 1,271.98) than the users of HCE with an average income of N 941,232 (USD 960.44). Thus, the use of LCE is not only for a sustainable environment but also for sustainable production and income. Therefore, this study calls for the promotion of the use of LCE to have a sustainable and productive farming enterprise.