FCMB launches AI agritech advisory in Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo to boost farmer finance

FCMB has announced plans to deepen its agritech strategy by deploying AI-powered advisory services in Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, aiming to improve finance access and support for smallholder farmers. The move follows the bank’s Agritech Alumni Impact Report covering 2018 to 2026, which shows FCMB will continue backing innovative AgTech companies that provide real-time advisory across the agricultural value chain using local languages.

The initiative addresses concerns over food security and the fact that, while agriculture contributes about 24% of Nigeria’s GDP, only six percent of African farmers currently have access to formal credit. FCMB says it will develop broader, inclusive lending models that leverage weather data, soil intelligence and USSD-enabled platforms.

The bank’s agritech programme has evolved from a startup‑focused competition into an ecosystem linking innovators, investors and development partners. Planned next steps include climate‑resilient agricultural financing, bundled insurance and animal healthcare solutions, and expanding Nigerian agritech startups into Uganda, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia and Kenya.

FCMB describes the shift as building “a de‑risked, data‑driven, and sovereign future for food and agriculture in Africa,” noting past collaborations with FMO, the UNDP and the Mastercard Foundation. Will AI advice in local languages help more farmers secure credit and adopt better practices, or should they wait for broader rollout before changing their farming decisions?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/20/fcmb-deepens-agritech-with-ai-advisory-in-local-languages/