Benue, Nasarawa, Ogun, Edo farmers to benefit from equipment leasing scheme
Smallholder farmers in Benue, Nasarawa, Ogun, and Edo states will gain access to affordable modern farming equipment through a new partnership between the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority ELRA and Heifer Nigeria. This collaboration, formalized by a two-year Memorandum of Understanding from August 15, 2026, to August 14, 2028, is part of Heifer Nigeria鈥檚 Naija Unlock Programme. The initiative aims to boost food production, strengthen agricultural value chains, and enhance Nigeria鈥檚 food security by providing flexible leasing and lease-to-own models for equipment like tractors, irrigation systems, and processing machinery. This approach allows farmers, cooperatives, women, and young agripreneurs to acquire necessary tools without high upfront costs. Donald Wokoma, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of ELRA, stated the agreement is a significant step in agricultural financing, addressing barriers to increased food production. Lekan Tobe, Country Director of Heifer Nigeria, emphasized the commitment to empowering smallholder farmers through market-driven solutions. Beyond equipment financing, the partnership includes capacity-building programs in agribusiness management, financial literacy, and equipment operation. It also promotes climate-smart agriculture and improved processing and storage infrastructure. The initiative is expected to lower production costs, reduce manual labor, improve farm efficiency, and serve as a national model for bridging the financing gap in
