Nigerian Agripreneurs Eligible for €2.2m Opportunity Crops Grant Programme

News in Brief:

-Nigerian agripreneurs and agricultural organisations can apply for grants under a new €2.2 million programme supporting climate-resilient and underutilised crops.

-The initiative will fund projects focused on seed systems, processing, market access, and consumer awareness, with applications closing on July 3, 2026.

Nigerian agripreneurs, agricultural startups, cooperatives, processors, and research-focused organisations now have an opportunity to access funding under a new €2.2 million grant programme launched by the Power of Diversity Funding Facility.

The initiative, officially launched on May 12, 2026, aims to strengthen the production, processing, marketing, and consumer awareness of “opportunity crops” across six countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Colombia.

Opportunity crops are nutritious and climate-resilient crops that are often underutilised despite their ability to thrive in harsh environmental conditions. The programme is being managed by the Crop Trust, an international organisation dedicated to conserving crop diversity and promoting food security.

Focus on Underutilised Crops

According to the organisers, the grants will support high-impact and scalable projects that improve specific crop value chains identified through stakeholder consultations conducted in participating countries in 2025.

For Nigeria, highlighted crops include fonio and pigeon pea, particularly in areas such as seed system development and improved farming practices. The programme will also support projects aimed at strengthening post-harvest handling, boosting processing capacity, improving market access, and increasing consumer awareness of these crops.

The initiative is expected to create new business opportunities for Nigerian agripreneurs working in seed production, food processing, agricultural technology, value chain logistics, and climate-smart agriculture.

Experts say the programme could help diversify Nigeria’s food systems while creating more resilient income sources for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses amid rising climate and economic pressures.

Eligibility and Application Timeline

Eligible applicants must demonstrate at least three years of in-country experience and show the technical and financial capacity to manage projects ranging between $100,000 and $200,000.

Organisations can apply for one or multiple project intervention areas, provided proposals include clear project goals, implementation timelines, expected outcomes, sustainability plans, and links to existing agricultural initiatives.

Crop Trust stated that applications must be submitted through the official online portal. A virtual briefing session for interested applicants is scheduled for May 29, 2026, while the application deadline is set for July 3, 2026.

Successful grantees will be notified by August 10, with projects expected to commence on October 1, 2026, and conclude before March 31, 2029.

The Power of Diversity Funding Facility was established in 2025 with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Government of Ireland to promote neglected but valuable crops across developing regions.