CASCADE Creates Financial Access For Women Smallholder Farmers, SMEs In Nasarawa 

Catalysing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE) Nigeria, has empowered 150 smallholder farmers, agribusiness owners and Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) with financial access to enable them boost their sources of income.

CASCADE’s progamme manager, Isaac Ishaya, stated this during the financial linkage workshop organised by the body in Lafia.

LEADERSHIP reports that CASCADE is being implemented by Cooperative Assistance for Relief Everywhere (CARE) and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) with support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr . Ishaya said the workshop was intended to bring financial services providers to grassroots consumers by facilitating access to financial products, market information, and business development services for smallholder farmers and women engaged in agribusiness and SMEs.

“In line with CASCADE Project’s goal to increase resilience at the community level by stimulating structural and sustainable long-term impact and leveraging Financial Inclusion Platforms to scale-layer Nutrition Service Delivery, the financial linkage workshop aims to strengthen women’s capacity to produce food, enhance productivity and resilience to price shocks, improve market access for income generation, and promote household nutrition in Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, and Nasarawa State.

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“This workshop aims to create a platform for engagement between financial institutions and agribusinesses, fostering dialogue on tailored financial solutions, investment opportunities, and sustainable business growth strategies,” he explained.

He noted that despite their contributions to food security and economic growth, smallholder farmers and agribusiness owners face significant challenges in accessing finance. “Many struggle to secure loans, insurance, and credit, which limits their ability to expand operations and improve productivity,” he decried.

He said because of the anomaly, CASCADE brought together women drawn across village savings and loans associations on the demand side and some financial providers on the supply side to interface on the modalities to accessing financial services.

“By linking women entrepreneurs and VSLA members with these financial products, the workshop aims to bridge economic gaps, drive sustainable agribusiness, and increase income-generating activities,” he said.
Speaking with journalists, Christian Ediagbonya, zonal head of business, North Central, LAPO, a financial service provider, Mr. Christian said his organization is collaborating with CASCADE on how to provide financial education to the women to enable them access facilities that will aid their business.

He commended CASCADE for initiating the financial linkage progrmme while assuring that his organization is willing to give assistance to the women to enable them develop themselves.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Patience Phillip from Akwanga, said the workshop afforded them the opportunity of financial education and also gave them access to financial institutions ready to support their businesses.