The World Bank has approved a $500 million loan for Nigeria to boost smallholder farming through a new initiative called AGROW (Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth). The funding, provided via the International Development Association (IDA), targets increased food production, improved processing, and better market access for farmers. Key crops including rice, maize, cassava, and soybeans will be prioritised, with agribusinesses required to source from smallholders to receive support. The project will enhance storage systems, expand digital advisory services, and introduce climate-resilient seeds. A national digital database of farmers will be created, and efforts will be made to improve seed and fertiliser regulation.
The initiative will strengthen agricultural research and extension services, promote transparent land investments, and encourage private-sector participation. Women and young people will be specifically included in the programme's outreach. Mathew Verghis, World Bank country director for Nigeria, said the project will help farmers grow more food, attract private investment, and improve food security sustainably. Up to one million smallholder farmers are expected to benefit over the six-year lifespan of the project, which runs from 2026 to 2032. An additional $220 million in private investment is anticipated.
A $500 million loan sounds substantial, but Nigeria's smallholder farmers have seen promises before with little change on the ground. The real test lies in whether the AGROW project can bypass bureaucratic bottlenecks and actually deliver seeds, storage, and market access to farmers who need them most. If implementation follows past patterns, even well-designed plans like this may end up enriching consultants more than cultivators.
