The Federal Government has announced that at least 22,000 farmers across Nigeria will benefit from interest-free loans through the FarmerMoni Dry and Wet Season Programme, administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
Mr. Hamza Baba, National Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) under NSIPA, made this disclosure during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope GEEP 3.0 and the FarmerMoni Technical Working Group in Abuja on Wednesday.
Describing the loans as both interest- and collateral-free, Baba said the initiative aims to boost agricultural productivity nationwide.
“From today, our portal is open for eligible farmers to register and access these loans,” he stated. “Each beneficiary will receive N300,000, an amount determined by the economic potential of each farming activity. Our focus is on supporting vulnerable and low-income farmers at the grassroots level.”
To qualify, farmers must be Nigerian citizens aged 18 and above, own or rent land, be actively engaged in farming, and have a bank account, National Identification Number (NIN), municipal identification, and membership in a local farming cooperative or association.
Baba emphasized that the programme spans all 774 local government areas in the country. “State-level programme managers, working with enumerators, banks, FinTech recovery agents, agricultural development projects, and farmer associations, will ensure efficient implementation across all 37 states. We aim to reach more than 22,000 farmers in this phase, averaging about 28 per local government.”
He added that a similar initiative, TraderMoni, targets artisans and petty traders.
Dr. Bernard Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, said the launch of Renewed Hope GEEP 3.0 represents more than policy initiatives; it signals the administration’s commitment to transforming vision into tangible action.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu is anchored on inclusion, resilience, and shared prosperity,” he said. “It seeks to ensure growth is broad-based and people-centered. GEEP 3.0 is a practical expression of this commitment.”
Dr. Doro explained that the programme provides micro and small-scale entrepreneurs, artisans, traders, and informal sector operators with affordable financial support to grow their businesses, create jobs, and sustain economic opportunities.
“In the same vein, the FarmerMoni Dry and Wet Season Programme is a strategic intervention to strengthen agricultural productivity throughout the year,” he said. “By supporting farmers across both planting cycles, we address seasonal vulnerabilities, boost yields, and enhance national food security. Our farmers remain the backbone of the Nigerian economy.”
The minister stressed that supporting farmers is both an economic necessity and a moral duty. “Investing in their productivity and resilience reinforces agriculture as a sustainable pathway out of poverty and a driver of rural development.”
He concluded that the overarching goal of these programmes is poverty reduction through empowerment, ensuring that financial inclusion reaches those previously excluded from formal economic systems.
Elijah Adeyemi
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