By Abbas Nazil
After over a decade of driving inclusive agribusiness across Nigeria, the 2SCALE programme has entered its final phase, marking the end of a 13-year journey that transformed the nation’s food systems and agricultural landscape.
Jointly implemented by the Dutch government and Nigerian partners, the programme—Toward Sustainable Clusters in Agribusiness through Learning in Entrepreneurship—has connected more than 136,000 smallholder farmers, with 35 percent being women and 40 percent youth, to sustainable markets and embedded climate-smart practices across 95,000 hectares.
Backed by €110 million in public funds and another €110 million in private sector co-investments, 2SCALE is credited with building value chains that are inclusive, resilient, and economically viable for Nigeria’s smallholder farmers.
At a recent dialogue held in Lagos themed “Inclusive Agribusiness in Nigeria,” stakeholders gathered to reflect on the programme’s impact and chart a path forward.
Speaking at the event, the Consular General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Michel Deelen, emphasized the urgency of professionalizing food systems to address national food security.
Deelen noted that women-led initiatives consistently delivered higher success rates, prompting the programme to prioritize women entrepreneurs.
One standout success story is Psaltery Farms in Oyo State, which grew from supporting 150 cassava farmers in 2014 to over 3,500 today, thanks to foundational support from 2SCALE.
Founder Yemisi Iranloye credited the programme not just with funding but with building critical structures, such as raw material planning and logistics systems, that helped scale operations and attract other businesses to the area.
Iranloye also highlighted the importance of routing support through organized agribusiness firms rather than individual farmers to avoid misuse by so-called “fake farmers.”
The programme’s inclusive approach was further explained by Maxwell Olitsa, Country Team Lead for 2SCALE Nigeria, who said the team worked to ensure women and youth were not only included but empowered to lead and thrive in agribusiness.
Through strategic partnerships with banks like Sterling Bank, LAPO Microfinance, and FCMB, 2SCALE facilitated over €17 million in credit to farmers, improving access to finance in rural communities.
Programme Director Marina Diboma described 2SCALE as more than a project—calling it a movement that built markets for dairy, staple crops, oilseeds, and horticulture, even amid global disruptions like climate change and COVID-19.
Now in its legacy-building phase, 2SCALE is focused on transferring ownership to local institutions, embedding its practices in business, policy, and education to ensure continuity.
With the Tinubu administration declaring a state of emergency on food security, the relevance of 2SCALE’s lessons has become even more pronounced.
Ayo Sotinrin, CEO of the Bank of Agriculture, reinforced the message that agriculture must be viewed as a business, citing 2SCALE as proof that structured support, value chains, and digital tools can drive national self-sufficiency and even boost exports.
Though the programme is winding down, its ripple effects will continue through initiatives like Horti Nigeria and through the empowered farmers and businesses it leaves behind.
With €220 million in total investments and a network of over 130,000 farmers reached, the true legacy of 2SCALE lies in reshaping mindsets, strengthening communities, and laying the groundwork for a more food-secure Nigeria.
