FCMB Plans AI Advisory for Farmers in Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo

In Short

FCMB plans to expand its agritech push with AI advisory for farmers in Nigeria. The guidance will be delivered in Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. The bank says the goal is better farm support and wider access to formal credit.

What Happened

FCMB says it will deploy AI-powered advisory services for smallholder farmers in major Nigerian languages. AI, or artificial intelligence, is software that can analyse information and generate responses, like a digital farming extension officer.

The plan was outlined in the bank’s Agritech Alumni Impact Report, covering 2018 to 2026. FCMB said it will keep backing agritech startups building tools across the agriculture value chain. It highlighted AI platforms that can provide real-time guidance, which means farmers can get timely answers on issues like pests, weather, and planting decisions.

FCMB also pointed to the credit gap as a key driver. The bank noted that agriculture contributes about 24% of Nigeria’s GDP, but only around 6% of African farmers have access to formal credit.

To close that gap, FCMB said it is exploring more inclusive lending models that use farm data. Examples include weather data, soil intelligence, and USSD-enabled platforms. USSD is the text-based menu used on any phone, similar to dialing a short code to check airtime.

The bank also described how its agritech programme has shifted from a startup competition into a wider ecosystem that connects innovators, investors, and development partners. FCMB cited collaborations with FMO and the United Nations Development Programme, plus work with the Mastercard Foundation on agriculture and youth-focused interventions.

Why It Matters

Language support can be a practical unlock for adoption. Many smallholder farmers are more comfortable in local languages than English, especially for detailed instructions.

If FCMB can combine local-language advisory with USSD access and better risk models, it could help lenders make credit decisions with more confidence. That matters in a sector where banks often avoid lending due to uncertain yields and limited farmer records.

FCMB also said next steps include climate-resilient agricultural finance, bundled insurance, animal healthcare solutions, and helping Nigerian agritech startups expand into other African markets, including Uganda, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, and Kenya.