To strengthen access to financial services in rural communities, HortiNigeria, in collaboration with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), has empowered members of agribusiness clusters in Kano and Kaduna states to operate as certified bank agents. This collaboration ties to the program’s goals of facilitating the development of a sustainable and inclusive horticulture sector.
“With the knowledge from the FCMB agent training, I am now ready to bring banking services closer to farmers in my community while empowering myself to grow my agribusiness.”
Hafsa Nuhu Sa’ad, Training Participant
Limited access to finance remains one of the greatest challenges faced by smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs. Many travel long distances to perform simple transactions such as withdrawals and transfers — a process that consumes time, reduces productivity, and discourages participation in formal financial systems.
Recognizing this gap, HortiNigeria partnered with FCMB to deliver targeted training and tools that bring banking services closer to farming communities. The collaboration demonstrates how partnerships can unlock opportunities, strengthen agribusiness ecosystems, and promote inclusive economic growth.
During the four-day training program, about 150 cluster members gained practical knowledge on operating as FCMB banking agents. The sessions covered key areas such as:
- Safe and secure transaction management
- Account opening and ATM card issuance
- Handling withdrawals, deposits, and transfers
After completing the training and documentation process, each participant received a point-of-sale (POS) machine, allowing them to immediately begin offering financial services in their localities.
According to Hafsa Nuhu Sa’ad, one of the training participants, “With the knowledge from the FCMB agent training, I am now ready to bring banking services closer to farmers in my community while empowering myself to grow my agribusiness.”
The POS agent model goes beyond improving access to finance — it creates new income streams for local entrepreneurs while fostering inclusion. By enabling cluster members to earn transaction commissions and support local agribusiness operations, the initiative strengthens rural economies and enhances trust in formal financial institutions.
The collaboration between FCMB and HortiNigeria shows how partnerships can translate into tangible outcomes for rural communities. Together, the partners are breaking down barriers to finance, expanding opportunities for various value chain actors.
HortiNigeria (2021-2025) is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria and implemented by IFDC, together with KIT Institute and East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT).
