Nigeria’s agricultural sector is among the beneficiaries of a World Bank Group effort to mobilise up to US$5.79 billion in private financing across the country’s economy during the 2026 fiscal year, with initiatives targeting smallholder farmers, agricultural inputs and stronger links between producers and markets.

The financing strategy was highlighted in a report published by Channels Television on 18 October, following the World Bank Group’s announcement of its broader private-sector investment plans. The overall figure covers several sectors and programmes; it is not a dedicated agricultural funding allocation.

One of the key agricultural initiatives is the Agricultural Value Chains for Growth (AGROW) Project, which aims to benefit one million smallholder farmers by improving productivity, access to quality seeds and fertilisers, digital services and market connections.

According to the World Bank, AGROW is expected to mobilise approximately US$220 million from agribusiness companies, alongside an additional US$22 million from certified seed producers. The project is intended to support agricultural value chains while encouraging private investment in businesses that source produce from small-scale farmers.

The World Bank Group’s wider approach also includes investment in domestic fertiliser production. Financing involving Dangote Industries and Indorama Fertilizer is intended to strengthen local supply capacity and improve access to agricultural inputs. The two projects have an aggregate production capacity of 6.8 million metric tonnes annually, according to the World Bank.

Access to affordable inputs remains important for farmers seeking to raise yields and manage production costs. Better links between farmers, processors and buyers can also help reduce post-harvest losses and encourage more commercial agricultural activity.

However, the US$5.79 billion represents financing the World Bank Group aims to mobilise across multiple sectors, rather than money already disbursed to farmers. The impact on agriculture will depend on implementation, the availability of financing to eligible businesses and whether farmers can access the inputs and markets the programmes are designed to support.