Smallholder farmers across Benue, Nasarawa, Ogun, and Edo states are set to gain easier access to essential agricultural machinery through a new strategic partnership between the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) and Heifer Nigeria. Signed under Heifer Nigeria’s flagship Naija Unlock Programme, the two-year agreement running from August 15, 2026, to August 14, 2028, aims to boost food production, strengthen supply chains, and reinforce national food security. By introducing flexible leasing and lease-to-own models, the initiative removes the burden of heavy upfront costs, enabling individual farmers, agricultural cooperatives, women, and young agripreneurs to acquire modern tools like tractors, power tillers, solar-powered irrigation systems, renewable energy equipment, processing machinery, and cold-chain storage facilities.
ELRA Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Donald Wokoma highlighted the agreement as a vital milestone, noting that equipment leasing can serve as a powerful engine for national development by connecting rural enterprises with the productive assets needed to drive agricultural transformation. Echoing this vision, Heifer Nigeria Country Director Lekan Tobe emphasized that access to modern equipment is fundamental to lifting farming families out of poverty, helping them move from subsistence farming to sustainable prosperity while reducing post-harvest losses. Beyond equipment access, both organizations will conduct comprehensive training programs covering agribusiness management, financial literacy, enterprise development, and routine machinery maintenance to ensure long-term success for local agricultural enterprises.
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