Abuja: The Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) and Heifer Nigeria Ltd/GTE have entered into a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve access to agricultural equipment for smallholder farmers through leasing arrangements.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the agreement was announced in a statement by ELRA’s Head of Media and Corporate Communication, Mr Adebola Sunday. The partnership aligns with ELRA’s role in regulating and promoting equipment leasing and Heifer Nigeria’s mission to combat hunger and poverty via sustainable agricultural practices. The initiative seeks to enhance food security and strengthen agricultural value chains by facilitating access to productive assets that boost agricultural productivity and promote inclusive economic growth.
During the signing ceremony, ELRA Registrar and CEO, Mr Donald Wokoma, highlighted the significance of the agreement in advancing agricultural financing. He emphasized that equipment leasing offers an effective financing mechanism by eliminating the need for large upfront capital, thus providing farmers with access to modern equipment. Wokoma expressed that the collaboration aims to make leasing a catalyst for national development by connecting Nigerians with essential productive assets.
Mr Lekan Tobe, Country Director of Heifer Nigeria, stated that the partnership underscores the organization’s focus on empowering smallholder farmers through market-driven solutions. He noted that access to equipment is crucial for transforming agriculture and alleviating poverty among farming families. The partnership intends to introduce innovative leasing models that enable farmers, cooperatives, women, and youth to access equipment necessary for increasing productivity and building resilient agribusinesses.
The collaboration will support agricultural value chains through increased mechanisation, climate-smart technologies, and expanded rural opportunities. It will offer leasing and lease-to-own models for a variety of equipment, including tractors, solar-powered irrigation systems, and processing machinery. Additionally, the initiative will include capacity-building programs in agribusiness management, financial literacy, and equipment maintenance.
The partnership, set for Aug. 15, 2026, to Aug. 14, 2028, is expected to enhance agricultural mechanisation access for smallholder farmers in Benue, Nasarawa, Ogun, and Edo states under Heifer Nigeria’s Naija Unlock Programme. This initiative aims to increase agricultural productivity, improve farmers’ incomes, reduce post-harvest losses, and support the Federal Government’s food security objectives.