The Greener Hope Large-scale Agriculture Mechanisation Programme (GHAPP) has called for more efforts towards access to finance in expanding mechanisation in the Agric sector at the maiden edition of the FARMFATECH 2024 EXPO, a three-day event held at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The event gathered prominent stakeholders from the agricultural value-chain sector to discuss pressing issues in agricultural financing and the value chain across Nigeria and Africa.

Speaking during the panel session on Agricultural Financing and Mechanisation during the EXPO themed “Agricultural Financing and its Value Chain in Nigeria and Africa”, the Director of Programme of Greener Hope, Dr. Musa Olasupo,  discussed the importance of access to finance in expanding mechanisation efforts.

He emphasised the Greener Hope Large-scale Agriculture Mechanisation Programme (GHAP’s) relentless commitment to empowering both small holders as well as large-scale farmers, enabling them to increase productivity and address food security challenges.

‘’Agricultural mechanisation services require long-term financing options, and it must be made consistently over a period of time for us to attain the desired level of Mechanisation that can catalyse agricultural productivity in Nigeria. Government should be ready to do the heavy lifting and allow the private sector to complement her efforts. That is the logic guiding the Greener Hope Large Scale Mechanization Programme” said Dr. Olasupo.

FARMFATECH 2024 featured a rich line-up of thought leadership panels and exhibitions, showcasing advancements in agricultural technology, mechanisation, and financing solutions. Greener Hope actively participated in both discussions during the sessions as well as the exhibitions, highlighting its commitment to providing technology-driven mechanisation solutions to Nigerian farmers and the Agri-business value-chain.

The discourse paraded key industry leaders and decision-makers including Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, General Christopher Cwabin Musa, OFR, Chief of Defence Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Professor Benedict Okey Oramah, President and Chairman of Afreximbank, Oliver Alawuba, CEO of United Bank for Africa, while Dr. Ilyasu Gashinbaki, Vice President Finance (Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry), served as the session’s moderator.

The second panel brought together experts which included Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON),Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC),Mr. Kamal Abdullahi Rasheed, Executive Director and CEO, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM),Kamar Bakrin, Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC),Mr. Oluwemimo J. Osanipin, Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Sa’ad Hamidu, CEO, NIRSAL to discuss further strategies for advancing agricultural productivity and enhancing support structures for mechanisation.