The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has partnered with the All-Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) to expand access to financing for farmers preparing for the 2026 dry season farming cycle, with the initiative targeting 400,000 farmers across Nigeria.

The partnership is designed to support increased year-round food production, strengthen farmers’ livelihoods, and contribute to a more reliable supply of locally produced food for Nigerian households. The initiative is being implemented under BOA’s Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund (RH-SSVCF), through which the Bank is building a credible pipeline of farmers actively engaged in agricultural production and requiring financing to sustain or expand their operations during the dry season.

Supporting Farmers Beyond the Rainy Season

Dry season farming provides an important opportunity to extend agricultural production beyond Nigeria’s main rainy season. However, farmers often face significant challenges, particularly limited access to financing and irrigation infrastructure.

Through this partnership, BOA is taking a broader approach to dry season agricultural financing. In addition to providing access to agricultural inputs, the Bank will finance irrigation toolkits and other associated irrigation equipment, helping participating farmers reduce their dependence on rainfall and maintain production during the dry season. Bank of Agriculture, AFAN Partn…

This approach is expected to help farmers cultivate for longer periods, improve the availability of locally produced food, increase household incomes, and strengthen the resilience of Nigeria’s food supply chains.

Expanding production across multiple farming seasons can also create greater economic opportunities for rural communities by allowing farmers to make more productive use of their land and agricultural assets throughout the year.

BOA and AFAN to Build a Stronger Farmer Financing Pipeline

Under the partnership, AFAN will play a critical role in identifying and presenting credible farmers within its extensive national network.

The farmers presented for consideration will be supported with relevant information, including their:

• Locations
• Commodities produced
• Farm sizes
• Proposed dry season acreage

AFAN will also support the identification of suitable Farmer Aggregation Companies (FACs) with verifiable farmer networks and the capacity to coordinate participating farmers. Bank of Agriculture, AFAN Partn…

This structure is intended to help BOA identify genuine farmers with clear production plans while improving the efficiency of agricultural financing and ensuring that support reaches farmers who are actively engaged in production.

Farmer Allocation Model to Support Dry Season Production

A key component of the initiative is the Farmer Allocation Model, through which approved financing will be provided to eligible participating farmers through suitable Farmer Aggregation Companies.

The FACs will serve as obligors and coordinate the allocation and deployment of approved inputs and other production requirements to participating farmers.

The model is designed to connect farmers with the financing, production inputs, and irrigation equipment they need to cultivate during the dry season, while ensuring that financing is channelled through credible structures with clearly identified farmer networks and production plans. Bank of Agriculture, AFAN Partn…

This structured approach is expected to strengthen accountability throughout the financing cycle while making it easier to coordinate farmers operating within the same production clusters or value chains.

Ayo Sotinrin: Dry Season Farming Is Critical to Year-Round Food Production

Commenting on the initiative, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, said BOA is focused on ensuring that farmers have access to the financing and productive assets required to sustain agricultural production beyond the main rainy season.

He said:

“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,” 

Mr. Sotinrin further noted that the partnership with AFAN would strengthen BOA’s ability to reach credible farmers at scale and build a stronger pipeline for agricultural financing.

Strengthening Verification and Responsible Agricultural Lending

As part of the implementation process, farmer and Farmer Aggregation Company information submitted through the partnership will undergo the Bank’s established verification, due diligence, and credit assessment processes.

Participation in the programme will therefore be subject to satisfactory assessment and approval by BOA in line with the Bank’s applicable policies and requirements. Bank of Agriculture, AFAN Partn…

This process is important to ensuring that financing is directed toward credible farmers and viable production activities while maintaining appropriate standards for agricultural lending.

By combining AFAN’s farmer network with BOA’s financing capacity and credit assessment framework, the partnership provides a structured pathway for expanding agricultural finance while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

Supporting Nigeria’s Food Security Through Year-Round Production

The BOA-AFAN partnership forms part of the Bank’s broader effort to expand access to agricultural finance, support year-round production, and strengthen the productive capacity of Nigerian farmers.

Dry season farming has the potential to make an important contribution to Nigeria’s food system by complementing production during the rainy season. With access to appropriate financing, irrigation equipment, inputs, and structured support, farmers can continue production during periods when rainfall is limited.

The initiative therefore addresses two interconnected challenges: access to agricultural finance and access to irrigation resources.

By helping farmers overcome these constraints, BOA expects the programme to support increased food production and contribute to a more resilient Nigerian food system. Bank of Agriculture, AFAN Partn…

A Strategic Partnership for Agricultural Growth

The collaboration between the Bank of Agriculture and AFAN underscores the importance of partnerships in expanding the reach and impact of agricultural financing in Nigeria.

With AFAN supporting farmer identification and aggregation, and BOA providing the financing framework and conducting the required due diligence and credit assessment, the partnership is positioned to connect more farmers with the resources they need to sustain production during the dry season.

The target of 400,000 farmers represents a significant opportunity to expand year-round agricultural production and strengthen the supply of food to Nigerian households.

For BOA, the initiative further reinforces its role in providing financing solutions that respond to the practical needs of farmers while supporting broader national objectives around food security, rural livelihoods, agricultural productivity, and resilient food supply chains.

As preparations for the 2026 dry season farming cycle continue, the Bank of Agriculture remains focused on ensuring that credible farmers have access to the financing, inputs, and irrigation equipment required to keep producing beyond the main rainy season.

View the Official Statement