No fewer than 99,331 smallholder farmers and agri-based enterprises have gained access to financial services under the Global Programme on Agricultural Finance (GP AgFin) Nigeria, as the Federal Government and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) concluded the programme’s eight-year implementation in the country.
The initiative, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ in partnership with the Federal Government, was designed to improve access to finance for smallholder farmers and rural agribusinesses by linking them with financial institutions and developing agriculture-focused financial products.
According to programme officials, GP AgFin facilitated financial inclusion for 99,331 farmers and agri-based enterprises across participating states through tailored credit solutions, financial literacy training and stronger partnerships between agricultural stakeholders and financial institutions.
The programme also worked with banks and other financial service providers to develop financing products suited to agricultural production cycles, helping farmers access loans and other financial services that were previously difficult to obtain. In addition, beneficiaries received training in business management, financial planning and investment readiness to strengthen the sustainability of their enterprises.
Stakeholders said the initiative demonstrated that agricultural financing can be commercially viable when financial products are designed around the realities of farming and rural value chains.
Throughout its implementation, GP AgFin collaborated with financial institutions to expand lending opportunities for farmers while promoting investments across key agricultural value chains, including maize, rice, cassava and Irish potato production. The programme also placed particular emphasis on supporting women and youth-led agribusinesses to improve their participation in the rural economy.
Officials noted that beyond increasing access to finance, the programme helped improve financial literacy among farmers, strengthened relationships between agricultural enterprises and lenders, and encouraged greater private-sector participation in agricultural financing.
The conclusion of the programme comes as Nigeria continues to prioritise agricultural transformation and food security through improved access to finance, increased private investment and stronger support for smallholder farmers. Development partners have expressed hope that the models established under GP AgFin will be sustained through government institutions, financial service providers and future agricultural development initiatives.
