Ahead of the 2026 dry season farming, the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has partnered with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) amidst efforts to expand access to financing for farmers.

The initiative, implemented under the BOA Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund (RH-SSVCF) is aimed at supporting increased year-round food production and strengthening the supply of food to Nigerian households.

Through the Initiative, BOA is building a credible pipeline of farmers actively engaged in production and requiring financing to sustain or expand their operations during the dry season.

The support according to the bank goes beyond providing agricultural input to providing irrigation equipment, thereby helping farmers reduce dependence on rainfall and maintain production through the dry season.

The Managing Director BOA Ayotunde Sotinrin explained that under the partnership, AFAN will support the identification and presentation of credible farmers within its national network, providing information on their locations, commodities, farm sizes, and proposed dry season acreage.

He added that AFAN will also support the identification of suitable Farmer Aggregation Companies (FACs) with verifiable farmer networks and the capacity to coordinate participating farmers.

He said “Through the Farmer Allocation Model, approved financing will be provided to eligible participating farmers through suitable FACs, which will serve as obligors and coordinate the allocation and
deployment of approved inputs and other production requirements to farmers.”

Sotinrin further explained that 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 clear farmer networks and production plans.

The MD also said that the Bank is focused on ensuring that farmers have access to the financing and productive assets required to sustain agricultural production beyond the main rainy 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.

He added that the partnership with AFAN would strengthen the Bank’s ability to reach credible farmers at scale and build a stronger pipeline for agricultural financing.

Sotinrin added that following the submission of farmer and FAC information, BOA will conduct the required verification, due diligence and credit assessment in line with its applicable policies and requirements.

He stressed that participation in the programme will be subject to satisfactory assessment and approval by the Bank

He said the Bank’s engagement with AFAN is part of effort to expand access to agricultural finance, support year-round production and strengthen the productive capacity of Nigerian farmers by helping them overcome some of the financing and irrigation constraints associated with dry season production.

Sotinrin said that the initiative is expected to support increased food production and contribute to a more resilient Nigerian food system.