The Global Programme on Agricultural Finance for Agribusiness Enterprises in Rural Areas (GP AgFin) has concluded its eight-year intervention, facilitating over N49.8 billion in market-driven financing for approximately 72,000 smallholder farmers and 16,000 agribusiness owners in Nigeria.
Funded by the German government and implemented by GIZ, the project aimed to dismantle the long-standing barriers between financial institutions and the agricultural sector.
Speaking at the project’s close-out ceremony in Kano, Dr. Andrea Ruediger, Cluster Coordinator for the Transformation of Agri-Food Systems (TAFS) at GIZ, highlighted that the milestone was achieved across Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi states.
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Dr. Ruediger emphasized that the nearly N50 billion in financing was entirely market-driven, involving no grants or concessional funding. Instead, the project focused on Capacity Building, Enhancing financial literacy for farmers, Institutional Strengthening,Training financial institutions to better assess agricultural risks.
Partnering with 11 financial institutions to create credit schemes specifically for maize and potato value chains.
“Several participants have grown from small-scale operations into larger enterprises employing dozens of workers,” Dr. Ruediger noted, urging beneficiaries to maintain their momentum.
The project’s reach extended beyond simple lending, fostering a culture of value addition and economic empowerment.
Dr. Abubakar Sani, representing the Kano State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Aliyu Isah, noted that the state has seen significant empowerment and growth in its agricultural value chain due to the intervention
Special Adviser to the Katsina State Governor on Banking and Finance,Bilkisu Sulaiman in her remarks said that the initiative successfully bridged the gap for agricultural expansion, directly improving rural livelihoods.
While the AgFin project is officially concluding, its blueprint for success will inform future initiatives.
Similar programmes are set to continue or expand into other regions, including Cross River, Oyo, and Ondo states.
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The event also featured insights from prominent academics and stakeholders, including Professor Abubakar Usman of NAERLS Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Dr. Abiodun Ezekiel of the Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology.
The GP AgFin project remains a cornerstone of broader international efforts to promote sustainable agricultural development and strengthen Nigeria’s rural economic growth.