The federal government has increased the Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) for tomato crate financing to 75% under the Dutch-funded HortiNigeria Programme, a move expected to unlock over ₦500 million in intervention funding for Nigeria’s horticulture sector.
Mohamed Selassie Idris, Country Representative of the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) and Programme Director of HortiNigeria, announced the development at the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) in Kaduna.
The CRG, previously 30% and later 50%, has now been scaled up to 75% through collaboration with the Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).
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Idris explained that this will boost confidence among financial institutions, expand access to credit for agribusinesses, and reduce post-harvest losses in the tomato value chain.
“This will strengthen the supply chain and enable more farmers and crate producers to access financing,” he said, noting that plastic crates reduce tomato damage during transport from northern states to southern markets compared to traditional raffia baskets, which can result in up to 50% produce loss.
The new credit framework will provide ₦500 million for crate manufacturing and distribution in major tomato-producing states. Idris added that the programme aligns with ongoing reforms to modernise horticulture and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
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HortiNigeria, funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands, is implemented by a consortium led by IFDC in partnership with East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT), KIT Institute, and Wageningen University & Research (WUR).
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
