Leasing Authority, Heifer Boost Equipment Access For Farmers

The Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) and Heifer Nigeria Ltd/GTE have signed a two-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand access to productive agricultural tools through innovative equipment leasing solutions.
This is aimed at improving food security, increasing rural incomes and strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.

The partnership, which runs from August 15, 2026, to August 14, 2028, will improve access to affordable agricultural mechanisation for smallholder farmers in Benue, Nasarawa, Ogun and Edo States under Heifer’s flagship “Naija Unlock Programme”.

Head, Media and Corporate Communication of ELRA, Adebola Brookslyn Sunday, said in a statement that the collaboration aligned its statutory mandate of regulating and promoting equipment leasing with Heifer Nigeria’s mission of ending hunger and poverty through sustainable agricultural development.

According to the statement, the partnership is designed to unlock access to productive assets, stimulate agricultural productivity, strengthen rural enterprises and promote inclusive economic growth by making modern farming equipment more accessible through flexible leasing and lease-to-own arrangements.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of ELRA, Mr. Donald Wokoma, described the agreement as a significant milestone in advancing agricultural financing and promoting equipment leasing as a practical solution to Nigeria’s food security challenges.

He noted that equipment leasing remains one of the most effective financing mechanisms for farmers and agribusinesses because it removes the burden of heavy upfront capital expenditure while providing access to modern equipment that drives productivity, efficiency and business growth.

“This partnership demonstrates how equipment leasing can unlock opportunities for farmers, cooperatives, women and young agripreneurs by providing affordable access to tractors, irrigation systems, processing equipment and other productive assets required to drive agricultural transformation.

“It also reinforces ELRA’s commitment to making leasing a catalyst for national development by connecting more Nigerians with the productive assets they need to succeed.

“We are confident that this collaboration will redefine how farmers and rural enterprises access equipment, ultimately driving productivity, job creation and economic prosperity,” Wokoma said.

Also speaking, the Country Director of Heifer Nigeria, Mr. Lekan Tobe, said the collaboration reflects the organisation’s commitment to empowering smallholder farmers through practical, market-driven solutions capable of transforming livelihoods and strengthening Nigeria’s food systems.

“At Heifer Nigeria, we believe that access to productive assets is fundamental to transforming agriculture and lifting farming families out of poverty.

“Through this partnership with ELRA, we are introducing innovative leasing models that will enable farmers, cooperatives, women and youth to acquire the equipment they need to increase productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and build resilient agribusinesses.”

He added that the partnership, under the Naija Unlock Programme, would strengthen agricultural value chains through increased mechanisation, climate-smart technologies, enterprise development, financial inclusion and expanded opportunities for rural communities.

Under the agreement, ELRA and Heifer Nigeria will jointly develop affordable leasing and lease-to-own models covering tractors, power tillers, planters, weeders, threshers, solar-powered irrigation systems, renewable-energy agricultural equipment, processing machinery, storage facilities and cold-chain infrastructure.