The Federal Government has secured over $600 million in foreign agricultural loans in 2024 to strengthen food security and foster rural development, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

A $134 million loan from the African Development Bank has been allocated to boost seed and grain production across the country.

The ministry confirmed this on its website, stating, “The Federal Government has secured a loan facility of $134 million from the African Development Bank to help farmers increase seed and grain production nationwide.”

Additionally, through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), the government obtained a $500 million loan from the World Bank, bringing the total funding to $634 million.

This initiative aims to connect rural communities to larger markets and enhance access to agricultural hubs, schools, and hospitals, promoting economic and social development in rural areas.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, outlined the requirements for states to qualify for RAAMP funding, including the establishment of functional Road Funds and Road Agencies.

Meanwhile, RAAMP National Coordinator Aminu Mohammed emphasized the project’s focus on rural infrastructure development.

“The primary objective of RAAMP is to improve rural roads and trading infrastructure to boost food production,” Mohammed explained.

Currently operational in 19 states, RAAMP will distribute funds competitively based on socioeconomic indicators, readiness for implementation, and state co-financing commitments.

It also includes measures to improve women’s representation in the transport sector by establishing Rural Access Road Authorities.

The next phase of RAAMP will involve a $500 million investment from the World Bank, complemented by $100 million in counterpart funding from federal and state governments.

Despite these efforts, many farmers have criticized the Federal Government’s agricultural initiatives as selective and poorly implemented.

Critics argue that programs intended to enhance mechanization, irrigation, and financing primarily benefit influential individuals, leaving smallholder farmers—the backbone of Nigeria’s agriculture sector—excluded.

Kaduna-based farmer La’ah Dauda described the interventions as “highly selective,” saying, “Awareness is limited to favored areas.

How can you attract new farmers when many are excluded?”

Similarly, Ifraimu Dauda, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, highlighted challenges in accessing government support, noting that irrigation farming remains costly and underfunded.