The Federal Government has launched the FarmerMonie Dry and Wet Season Programme, alongside the Renewed Hope Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (RH-GEEP 3.0), to encourage smallholder farmers.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, stated that more than 21,000 farmers across all 774 local government areas would benefit from the first phase of the FarmerMonie scheme.
Under the programme, the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) will disburse interest-free loans of up to ₦300,000 to smallholder farmers to enable them to access seeds, fertilisers, farm equipment and other essential inputs.
The loans come with a three-month moratorium before repayment and are targeted at women, youth and vulnerable farming households.
Doro mentioned that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reduce poverty through empowerment rather than short-term relief.
“By empowering farmers across both planting cycles, we are boosting food security while ensuring agriculture remains a viable pathway out of poverty,” he said.
He added that the programme reflects the government’s commitment to financial inclusion, noting that farmers and small businesses are central to national economic resilience and job creation.
Doro disclosed that the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme has already reached 9.3 million households, with plans to expand coverage to 16 million households by the end of 2026.
According to him, this translates to over 30 million Nigerians benefiting from direct social protection interventions.
The Acting National Coordinator of NSIPA, Associate Professor Badamasi Lawah, described the launch as a major step towards placing economic empowerment and productive livelihoods at the centre of national development.
He mentioned that the FarmerMonie programme recognises agriculture as a key driver of food security, rural employment and income stability, particularly for smallholder farmers vulnerable to seasonal shocks.
The GEEP National Programme Manager, Hon Hamza Baba, confirmed that the FarmerMonie portal has opened for registration, allowing eligible farmers to apply for interest-free,collateral-free loans.
According to him, applicants must be Nigerian citizens aged 18 and above, already engaged in farming, and must possess a bank account, National Identification Number (NIN) and membership of a recognised farmers’ cooperative or association.
He stressed that the programme is designed strictly for smallholder and subsistence farmers, not large-scale commercial operators, and will be implemented across all 37 states of the federation.
Source: The Nation Online
