The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has partnered with the All-Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) to expand access to financing for 400,000 farmers preparing for the 2026 dry-season farming cycle.
The initiative is designed to support year-round agricultural production, improve farmers’ incomes and strengthen the supply of locally produced food to Nigerian households.
The partnership is being implemented under BOA’s Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund (RH-SSVCF), through which the bank is building a pipeline of farmers actively engaged in production and requiring financing to sustain or expand their operations during the dry season.
Beyond agricultural inputs, the financing will cover irrigation toolkits and related equipment, allowing farmers to reduce their dependence on rainfall and maintain production during the dry season.
BOA said expanding agricultural activities beyond the main rainy season could increase food availability, improve farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen the resilience of food supply chains.
Under the partnership, AFAN will identify and present credible farmers within its national network for consideration under the programme.
The association will provide information on participating farmers, including their locations, commodities, farm sizes and proposed dry-season acreage.
AFAN will also help identify suitable Farmer Aggregation Companies (FACs) with verifiable farmer networks and the capacity to coordinate participating farmers.
Under the Farmer Allocation Model, approved financing will be channelled to eligible farmers through suitable FACs.
The FACs will serve as obligors and coordinate the allocation and deployment of approved inputs, irrigation equipment and other production requirements.
Commenting on the initiative, Ayo Sotinrin, BOA Managing Director, said the bank was committed to ensuring that farmers with the capacity and willingness to produce had access to the financing and productive assets required to sustain operations beyond the main rainy season. “Dry-season farming allows us to keep production going beyond the main farming season. Our responsibility is to ensure that farmers who are ready and able to produce have access to the financing, inputs and irrigation equipment they need to do so,” Sotinrin said.
He added that supporting agricultural production throughout the year would help improve farmers’ livelihoods while contributing to a more reliable food supply.
According to him, the partnership with AFAN would also strengthen BOA’s ability to reach credible farmers at scale and develop a stronger pipeline for agricultural financing.
Following the submission of farmer and FAC information by AFAN, BOA will conduct verification, due diligence and credit assessments in line with its applicable policies and requirements.
Participation in the programme will be subject to satisfactory assessment and approval by the bank.
BOA said the partnership forms part of its broader efforts to expand access to agricultural finance, promote year-round production and strengthen the productive capacity of Nigerian farmers.
The bank added that addressing financing and irrigation constraints associated with dry-season farming could help increase food production and contribute to a more resilient food system in Nigeria.
