In 2026, Nigeria’s agricultural sector continues to receive strong support from the Federal Government through several financing programmes designed to help farmers and agribusiness owners grow. We currently have a lot of scheme created by the government to support farmers at every stage. One of the biggest opportunities currently available is the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF), managed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The programme helps farmers and agribusiness operators access affordable agricultural loans through participating banks across Nigeria. With loan guarantees of up to 75%, the scheme reduces the risk for banks and makes it easier for farmers to secure funding for their agricultural projects.
Whether you are involved in crop farming, livestock production, fish farming, poultry, agro-processing, or agribusiness expansion, this programme can provide the financial support you need to grow your business. And it is easy to apply for without much stress. Farmers can apply for loan from less than ₦100,000 to ₦5,000,000
The Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) is a Federal Government agricultural financing programme created to improve access to loans for farmers and agribusiness owners in Nigeria. The scheme is managed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and works in partnership with commercial banks and microfinance banks.
Under the programme, banks provide loans to farmers while the Central Bank guarantees up to 75% of the loan in case of default. This guarantee by the Central Bank of Nigeria is what makes this loan easy and accessible by farmers and agricbusiness owners. It definitely encourages more financial institutions to support agricultural businesses.
Farmers and agribusiness owners who qualify for the scheme can enjoy several benefits, including:
Applicants can access loans to:
The scheme guarantees up to 75% of the outstanding loan balance, making banks more willing to approve agricultural loans.
Qualified applicants can access:
The interest rebate for farmers rewards farmers who repay their loans on time. They can qualify for a 40% interest rebate under the Interest Drawback Programme (IDP). This automatically saves a huge amount of money for farmers and agricbusiness owners. Unlike the loans from commercial banks which doesn't has such facility.
The programme is open to Nigerians involved in agriculture and agribusiness, including:
The ACGSF supports different agricultural value chain activities, such as:
Crop Production
Livestock Farming
Fisheries
Agro-Processing
Applicants may be required to provide:
The lending bank may also conduct:
Follow these steps to apply:
Step 1: Visit a Participating Bank
Go to any commercial bank or microfinance bank participating in the scheme.
Step 2: Request for ACGSF Loan
Inform the bank that you want to apply for the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF).
Step 3: Complete the Application Form
Fill out the required loan application form and submit the necessary documents.
Step 4: Bank Review and Verification
The bank will review your application and forward it to the appropriate CBN office for processing.
Step 5: Loan Approval and Disbursement
Successful applicants will receive funding through their bank accounts.
Here are some of the major licensed banks and approved financial institutions in Nigeria where farmers and agribusiness owners can apply for the ACGSF agricultural loan programme managed by the Central Bank of Nigeria. (Central Bank of Nigeria)
These banks are regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria and can process agricultural loan applications:
Many licensed microfinance banks also participate in agricultural financing and SME lending programmes. Examples include: (NDIC)
These institutions also support agricultural and SME financing in Nigeria:
At the moment, the Central Bank of Nigeria has not announced an official closing date for the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) application.
Interested applicants are advised to apply as early as possible because participating banks may have internal deadlines and limited funding allocations.
Applicants can get more information and begin the application process through the official CBN website:
CBN Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF)
You can also explore other grants, scholarships, and business funding opportunities available for Nigerians.
You may also be interested in:
WAWU Africa Opens Applications for ₦250,000 SME Grant for Nigerian Entrepreneurs
Applying for multiple opportunities can improve your chances of getting financial support for your business or education.
The CBN Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) remains one of the best agricultural loan opportunities available for Nigerian farmers and agribusiness owners in 2026. With loan access of up to ₦50 million, government-backed guarantees, and interest rebates for timely repayment, the programme offers real financial support for agricultural growth in Nigeria.
If you are serious about expanding your farm or agribusiness, this could be the opportunity you need to secure funding and scale your operations successfully.