The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the Cross River State Government have agreed to deepen collaboration on agricultural financing, with a focus on expanding access to credit for farmers and agribusinesses across the state.
The partnership was discussed when the Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed A. Ibrahim, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Bassey Otu at the Government House in Calabar. The meeting centred on the development of a subnational non-ISPO de-risking mechanism aimed at improving access to agricultural finance in the state.
The NADF delegation was accompanied by its technical partners, PROPCOM+, led by Country Director Adiya Ode.
Governor Otu welcomed the initiative and directed the State Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation to constitute a technical committee to work with NADF and PROPCOM+ in reviewing and adapting the de-risking framework to align with the state’s agricultural priorities.
He said the partnership would help accelerate the government’s efforts to commercialise agriculture, support smallholder farmers, and strengthen food systems across all 18 local government areas.
In his remarks, the NADF Executive Secretary commended the Cross River State Government for its forward-looking policies, particularly the creation of the Cross River State Agricultural Development Fund, which is designed to enhance agricultural financing and promote agribusiness growth.
He also praised the Project Grow initiative, describing it as a model for empowering smallholder farmers and MSMEs through inclusive financing and sustainable agricultural practices.
Ibrahim further applauded the state’s investment in research and innovation through the establishment of an Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) substation, noting that the effort would deepen evidence-based policy formulation and strengthen primary production.
He reaffirmed NADF’s commitment to supporting subnational governments in achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security and sovereignty, stressing that states play a pivotal role in driving Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
“The Cross River model reflects what we have seen in successful agricultural economies like Brazil — where strong state-level leadership, innovative financing, and technology-driven farming converge to deliver inclusive growth and lasting food security,” Ibrahim said.
