By Abbas Nazil
In a novel approach to reshaping Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) have unveiled a gender-inclusive and climate-smart agricultural financing framework.
The initiative was launched during a high-level validation workshop held in Abuja, bringing together key stakeholders to finalize and adopt a transformative strategy aimed at empowering millions of women and youth across the agricultural value chain.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the framework as a revolutionary move that integrates financial inclusivity and climate resilience.
He emphasized that the initiative transcends mere documentation, calling it a tangible commitment to enhancing resilience and sustainability in the country’s food systems.
The framework breaks away from traditional credit systems by incorporating a comprehensive support structure that includes mechanization, extension services, digital tools, advisory services, and risk-sharing mechanisms—all designed to serve marginalized and underserved populations.
A standout component of the initiative is the NADF-led mechanization programme, which plans to deploy 2,000 John Deere tractors in its first phase, with a goal to expand to 10,000 tractors within five years.
This move is expected to boost productivity and generate rural employment, especially among women and youth.
Senator Kyari emphasized the programme’s equitable design, ensuring that smallholder farmers gain access to critical resources.
He also highlighted the importance of digital tools and financial literacy in ensuring inclusive access and long-term sustainability.
The initiative positions itself as a key response to climate change and food insecurity, with Senator Kyari pointing to recent flood disasters as a warning sign.
He stressed the urgency of integrating anticipatory action and risk management into agricultural systems.
The framework also encourages leveraging digital platforms to offer tailored financial products such as microloans and bundled services including insurance and mechanization.
NADF Executive Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, noted that the framework is not just a policy but a practical tool designed to meet farmers at their point of need and elevate them.
He called for a rethink of delivery models, proposing innovative approaches like pay-as-you-plant services and mobile wallet disbursements to women farmers.
Ibrahim encouraged stakeholders to co-create and own the framework, urging them to develop solutions that are rooted in Nigeria’s rural realities.
Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, praised the inclusive nature of the plan, highlighting that women make up 70 to 75 percent of the agricultural workforce yet receive minimal access to land and credit.
She called for urgent reforms to empower women and address the growing impacts of climate change.
Similarly, GIZ representative Andrea Osuna reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, emphasizing the essential role food systems play in livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
Senator Saliu Mustapha, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture Production and Rural Development, stressed that technology is pivotal to sustaining food production for Nigeria’s growing population.
Meanwhile, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, advocated for the inclusion of Nigeria’s most vulnerable groups, particularly displaced persons, who, he said, are often left out of national development discussions despite their significant numbers.
The workshop, which follows an earlier drafting session held in November 2024, represents the second phase in the development of the financing model, focusing on validation, refinement, and implementation planning.
With strong political and institutional backing, the NADF-GIZ framework stands as a timely and strategic intervention to empower the next generation of farmers and build a climate-resilient, inclusive agricultural economy in Nigeria.