Financing Farmers, Feeding Nigeria: Why Smallholders Hold The Key To Growth
By PAULINA NZERUBE
AT the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos, policymakers, financiers, farmers, and agribusiness leaders gathered for one of Nigeria’s most pressing conversations: Can smallholder farmers truly be financeable?
The event—the 2025 Agribusiness Dialogue Session hosted by the BATN Foundation—took aim at the enduring myth that smallholder farming is too risky, too small, or too unprofitable to deserve serious investment. The resounding message from the day: betting on smallholder farmers is not charity—it is smart economics.
Nigeria’s 40 million smallholder farmers produce nearly 80 percent of the country’s food, making them the backbone of food security and rural livelihoods. Yet they remain underfunded, overlooked, and locked out of financial systems. As international aid declines, the dialogue underscored that domestic financing and innovation must step in.
“We must stop seeing farmers as passive recipients of aid,” said Oludare Odusanya, General Manager of BATNF. “They are active partners in Nigeria’s economic transformation. Finance alone is not enough—it must be paired with knowledge, innovation, and access to markets.”
The keynote speaker, Prof. Ademola Adenle, Senior Special Adviser on Agricultural Innovation to the Minister of Agriculture, was even more direct: “Every kobo invested in smallholder farmers is not charity. It is one of the smartest investments we can make today.”
Panelists echoed these sentiments. Mr. Abiodun Sosanya of the National Agriculture Development Fund stressed that non-collateral lending tailored to smallholders is essential, since they already feed the nation. Bank of Agriculture’s Managing Director, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, called for a national farmer database and stronger rural infrastructure. Agripreneur Samson Ogbole added, “We can’t finance ignorance. Financing must come with knowledge hubs, business models, and risk-sharing structures.”
The dialogue wasn’t just about ideas; it was also about showcasing success. Through its Farmers for the Future competition, BATNF awarded ₦3 million to agripreneur Daniel Akogwu Jacob, with other young farmers receiving ₦1–₂ million in seed support. These stories highlighted how access to finance, training, and markets can transform farming into a thriving business.
Mrs. Halimat Shuaibu, Executive Director of BATNF, summed it up: “Agriculture must move from being seen as survivalist to being a strategic driver of national wealth. When we invest in smallholders, we invest in Nigeria’s future.”
The message from Lagos was clear: with the right blend of financing, innovation, and policy alignment, Nigeria’s smallholder farmers are not only financeable—they are indispensable to building a food-secure and prosperous nation.
