The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) have reaffirmed their commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agriculture through gender-inclusive and climate-smart financing models.
At the Validation Workshop on Climate-Smart and Gender-Inclusive Financing held in Abuja recently, key stakeholders gathered to finalise a financing framework aimed at providing millions of women and youths with access to agricultural support systems tailored to meet their unique needs.
Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, described the initiative as “more than just documentation; it embodies our commitment to fostering resilience, inclusivity, and prosperity within our food systems.”
Kyari, in his address, said the launch of a mechanisation programme under the NADF that would deploy 2,000 John Deere tractors in its initial phase, with a target of 10,000 tractors in five years. The programme is designed to ensure equitable access to these resources, particularly for smallholder farmers, women, and youth,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of integrating digital tools and financial literacy to reach underserved groups.
The Minister said, “Inclusion demands that we think beyond traditional financial instruments. We must explore innovative approaches that leverage digital platforms can provide tailored financial products that meet the unique needs of these groups.”
Referring to recent flood disasters, the Minister noted, “The urgency of integrating risk management and anticipatory action into our agricultural systems cannot be overstated.”
Also speaking, Mohammed Ibrahim, NADF Executive Secretary, said “Our mission is simple yet ambitious: to unlock and deploy financing that works for every Nigerian farmer, no matter where they are or what barriers they face.”
The workshop builds on a previous session held in November 2024, where stakeholders helped craft the initial draft of the financing model. This second phase is focused on validation, product refinement, and setting clear steps for implementation.
“This is more than validation—it is co-creation of a financing model that meets farmers where they are and takes them to where they deserve to be,” Ibrahim said.
NADF called on stakeholders to imagine new delivery models, “Can we bundle financing, insurance, and mechanisation into one service—pay-as-you-plant? Can digital platforms deliver microloans to women via mobile wallets?” Ibrahim asked.
Both leaders underscored the workshop’s alignment with regional agricultural blueprints like the Kampala Declaration and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) 2026–2035 Strategy. These continental goals include boosting productivity, halving post-harvest losses, tripling intra-African agri-food trade, and empowering women and youth.
Ibrahim further called on all participants to take ownership of the process.
“Let us use today to build something real. Not a policy on paper, but a framework that lives in our farmlands and fields, our markets, and the futures of our farmers,” he noted.
Presenting the Keynote address, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, minister of Women Affairs, called for urgent and inclusive financial systems to empower women and build resilience against the growing impacts of climate change while also praising the NADF for its role in inclusive agriculture.
“Women constitute between 70 and 75 percent of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce and produce about 70 to 80 percent of the nation’s food. Yet, they receive only a small fraction of the credit and land allocated to small-scale farmers”, she said.
“We must collectively work to dismantle the systemic barriers that have historically hindered women’s full participation and ensure a level playing field where their contributions are recognised and supported,” she added.
Representing the German Development Agency (GIZ), Andrea Ruediger reaffirmed Germany’s long-standing partnership with Nigeria in agricultural transformation.
“Food systems do more than feed people; they are the backbone of livelihoods, economies, and our environment,” she said.
He urged stakeholders to implement the recommendations outlined in the newly validated framework. These include developing targeted financial products, increasing access to non-collateralized loans, enhancing institutional coordination, and promoting climate-smart agriculture.
“We are proud to support Nigeria’s efforts through projects like ACCESS, which strengthen agriculture, improve nutrition, and drive sustainability through innovations like renewable energy and agri-tech,” she noted.
Saliu Mustapha, Chairman, Nigerian Senate Committee on Agriculture Production and Rural Development, said, “Technology is key to food sustainability. We must drive this initiative to success, especially as we prepare to feed a growing population,” he said.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, called for urgent attention to Nigeria’s most vulnerable groups, particularly displaced persons, in national development policies.
