Empowering Future Farmers: The Journey of Institutionalisation

The Global Project "Promotion of Agricultural Finance for Agri-based Enterprises in Rural Areas" (GP AgFin) in Nigeria, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, is improving access to financial services tailored to the needs of agricultural business and agri-based enterprises in rural areas.

The project focuses on enhancing financial literacy within agricultural value chains through tailored knowledge materials and institutionalizing the Farmer Financial Cycle training by collaborating with the Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCA) in Ibadan, Kano, and Akure. These colleges were chosen deliberately to nurture future agriculture innovators - from extension workers to farm owners. The Farmer Financial Cycle (FFC) training, developed by the GP AgFin, aims to empower smallholder farmers with financial knowledge, covering crucial topics across 11 modules: Investments, loans, savings and personal financial management, among others.

The FFC underwent a customization process involving partners and expert insights to meet academic standards. The tailored course notes were integrated into college curricula, with one institution offering the FFC as a standalone course for National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) students. Other institutions incorporated the FFC content into their Agricultural Management and Entrepreneurship courses. A Training of Trainers program further enriched faculty members with interactive teaching techniques, fostering a sustainable educational approach.