The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project to expand access to affordable financing for smallholder livestock farmers and agribusinesses across Nigeria. The collaboration also brings in the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), which will provide credit risk guarantees to encourage increased lending to the livestock sector.

The partnership represents a significant step toward addressing one of the biggest constraints facing Nigeria’s livestock industry—limited access to affordable finance. By combining the strengths and expertise of the three institutions, the initiative aims to stimulate investment, improve productivity, and support the long-term growth and resilience of Nigeria’s livestock value chain.

Expanding Financial Access for Livestock Farmers

Under the partnership, the Bank of Agriculture will leverage its extensive nationwide branch network and agricultural financing expertise to deliver financial services to eligible livestock farmers and agribusinesses.

The L-PRES Project will identify and support qualified beneficiaries through its established network across participating states, ensuring that financing reaches genuine livestock producers with viable business opportunities.

To further strengthen the financing framework, NIRSAL will provide credit risk guarantees, reducing lending risks for financial institutions and encouraging greater investment in livestock production and related enterprises.

This integrated approach is expected to improve access to affordable credit for farmers while expanding financial inclusion across Nigeria’s livestock industry.

Strengthening the Livestock Value Chain

As part of the collaboration, L-PRES will provide comprehensive data and information on livestock markets, producer clusters, cooperatives, grazing reserves, processing facilities, and other critical livestock assets.

The availability of reliable data will enhance beneficiary identification, improve credit assessments, strengthen loan monitoring, and support more effective programme implementation. It will also ensure that financial support is directed toward genuine livestock producers and enterprises capable of contributing to increased agricultural productivity.

By improving the quality of information available to financing institutions, the partnership is expected to enhance transparency, reduce lending risks, and strengthen confidence in agricultural financing.

Leveraging Digital Innovation for Rural Inclusion

Recognizing the growing role of technology in expanding financial access, the initiative will leverage digital platforms and the widespread use of mobile technology to make financial services more accessible to livestock farmers, particularly those in underserved rural communities.

Digital channels will simplify the financing process, improve communication with beneficiaries, and support efficient monitoring throughout the lending cycle, helping farmers access financial services more conveniently and securely.

The initiative is also expected to encourage greater participation by young people and women in livestock enterprises by reducing barriers to accessing finance and business support.

Driving Sustainable Growth in Nigeria’s Livestock Sector

The collaboration is expected to unlock greater investment across the livestock value chain, creating opportunities for farmers to expand production, improve productivity, and strengthen the commercial viability of their businesses.

Beyond financing, the partnership supports broader national objectives of increasing domestic livestock production, improving food security, creating rural employment, and strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural economy through sustainable value chain development.

By bringing together agricultural financing, risk-sharing mechanisms, and data-driven beneficiary support, the partnership establishes a comprehensive framework for accelerating growth across Nigeria’s livestock sector.

A Shared Commitment to Agricultural Development

The partnership between the Bank of Agriculture, L-PRES, and NIRSAL reflects a shared commitment to building a more resilient and inclusive livestock industry by improving access to finance, increasing productivity, and supporting sustainable agricultural development across Nigeria.

Through strategic collaboration and innovative financing solutions, the three institutions are helping create an enabling environment where livestock farmers and agribusinesses can thrive, contribute to national food security, and drive long-term economic growth.