BOA and AFAN to Finance 400,000 Dry-Season Farmers Ahead of 2026

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has entered into a strategic partnership with the All-Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) to provide critical financing for 400,000 farmers ahead of the 2026 dry-season farming cycle. The initiative, deployed under the BOA’s Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund, is specifically designed to support year-round food production while improving farmers' access to essential agricultural inputs and modern irrigation equipment. The bank disclosed the collaboration in an official statement released on Friday.

Under the terms of the partnership, AFAN will identify and present qualified farmers within its extensive national network, supplying detailed information including their geographic locations, specific commodities, farm sizes, and proposed dry-season acreage. Furthermore, the association will identify suitable Farmer Aggregation Companies (FACs) that feature verifiable farmer networks and possess the institutional capacity to effectively coordinate participating producers. Approved funding will be channeled directly to eligible farmers through these suitable FACs, which will serve as obligors and manage the distribution of inputs and production requirements.

The comprehensive programme will also distribute specialized irrigation toolkits and equipment to help farmers substantially mitigate their dependence on seasonal rainfall and maintain steady production levels throughout the dry months. BOA Managing Director Ayo Sotinrin stated that the initiative is structured to keep agricultural production active far beyond the boundaries of the main farming season. He noted that the bank's core responsibility is ensuring that motivated and capable farmers gain seamless access to the necessary financing, inputs, and irrigation tools.

Sotinrin further emphasized that by sustaining production across the entire year, the institution is simultaneously bolstering farmers' livelihoods and contributing to a more stable and reliable food supply for the nation. He added that the collaboration with AFAN will significantly strengthen the bank's operational capacity to reach agricultural producers at scale and construct a more robust pipeline for future agricultural financing. All participating farmers and aggregation companies will undergo rigorous verification, due diligence, and credit assessments aligned with the bank's established policies.

This landmark partnership forms an integral part of the BOA's broader efforts to expand agricultural financing and bolster year-round farming practices as producers continually contend with limited irrigation infrastructure and tight credit access. Through structured coordination and targeted resource deployment, the initiative aims to transform dry-season farming capabilities and ensure long-term agricultural resilience in the sector.