BOA, AFAN Move to Fund 400,000 Dry-Season Farmers

BOA, AFAN Move to Fund 400,000 Dry-Season Farmers

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and the All-Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) have moved to provide financing support to 400,000 farmers ahead of the 2026 dry-season farming cycle.

The initiative, being implemented through BOA’s Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund, is aimed at expanding farmers’ access to credit, agricultural inputs and irrigation equipment while boosting year-round food production.

Under the partnership, AFAN will identify farmers within its nationwide network and provide details including their locations, crops, farm sizes and proposed areas for dry-season cultivation.

AFAN will also identify suitable Farmer Aggregation Companies (FACs) with verifiable farmer networks and the capacity to coordinate participating farmers.

Once approved, financing will be provided to eligible farmers through the selected FACs, which will serve as obligors and coordinate the distribution of approved inputs and other production requirements.

The programme will also support farmers with irrigation toolkits and other irrigation equipment to reduce dependence on rainfall and enable continued cultivation during the dry season.

BOA Managing Director, Ayo Sotinrin, said the initiative would help farmers sustain production beyond the main farming 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.»

«“By supporting production throughout the year, we are supporting farmers’ livelihoods while contributing to a more reliable supply of food for every Nigerian,” he said.»

Sotinrin said the partnership with AFAN would strengthen BOA’s ability to reach farmers at scale and create a stronger pipeline for agricultural financing.

The bank said participating farmers and aggregation companies would undergo verification, due diligence and credit assessment in line with its policies and requirements.

It added that participation would be subject to satisfactory assessment and approval.

The partnership comes as farmers continue to face challenges accessing agricultural credit and adequate irrigation facilities needed to sustain production outside the rainy season.

BOA said the initiative is part of its broader efforts to expand agricultural financing and support year-round farming across Nigeria.