By Faridat Salifu
The United Kingdom has invested $7.5 million to help smallholder farmers in Northern Nigeria withstand the growing threats of climate change.
The debt financing, provided through British International Investment (BII) to Agritech Enterprise, Babban Gona, is projected to support 140,000 farmers by 2029.
The initiative aims to tackle structural challenges such as poor access to credit, quality inputs, agronomic training, and markets.
It also directly targets climate-related risks like flooding and drought, which continue to endanger food production and rural incomes.
British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, said the investment is designed to equip farmers with the tools to improve productivity despite environmental shocks.
He stressed that although the north produces as much as 60 percent of Nigeria’s maize, climate pressures and low yields keep farmers vulnerable.
Babban Gona’s Managing Director, Kola Masha, said the region still suffers post-harvest losses of up to 30 percent, further weakening food security.
He noted that most farmers operate on small plots with limited access to credit and modern training, making resilience-building crucial.
The funding will support Babban Gona’s AI-driven platform, which offers climate-smart practices, quality inputs, and post-harvest services including storage and market linkage.
Officials say the programme is a step towards stabilising livelihoods while strengthening food systems in regions hardest hit by climate change.
