International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, is providing $300,000 in advisory support to strengthen Nigerian entrepreneur Kola Masha’s Babban Gona smallholder farming model, expand its farmer network, and improve access to formal financing.

The project, approved on March 17, 2026, is scheduled to run through Dec. 31, 2027, according to the IFC’s project disclosure updated on Oct. 21, 2026. Its estimated budget covers project-funded activities aimed at strengthening Babban Gona’s delivery model, deepening its engagement with financial institutions and supporting sustainable growth.

The initiative is expected to increase the number of smallholder farmers in Nigeria receiving formal financing, helping improve agricultural productivity and food security.

IFC targets financing access and expansion

The advisory project will help Babban Gona strengthen its operating model, build relationships with financial institutions and expand its network of smallholder farmers.

Access to formal credit remains a major challenge for many small-scale farmers, who often struggle to finance seeds, fertilizer, equipment, and other agricultural inputs. By improving its delivery systems and financial partnerships, Babban Gona aims to help more farmers obtain the resources needed to increase yields and improve incomes.

The IFC disclosure identifies expanded access to formal financing as a key expected development outcome. It does not specify individual advisory workstreams or name the financial institutions expected to participate.

Kola Masha’s model organizes smallholder farmers

Founded by Kola Masha in the early 2010s, Babban Gona, meaning “Great Farm” in Hausa, organizes smallholder farmers through a franchise-style model designed to improve productivity and commercial access.

Rather than acquiring large tracts of farmland, the enterprise works through local leaders known as trustees, who organize farmers and coordinate access to agricultural inputs, training and other services.

The model combines financing, agricultural support and market access to address challenges associated with low yields, limited capital and fragmented production. Technology also helps coordinate operations and track farm performance, supporting greater visibility across the agricultural supply chain.

Development finance backs agricultural growth

Babban Gona has attracted support from development financiers and impact investors as it expands its model. In 2025, it secured a $7.5 million facility from British International

Investment to strengthen input financing and improve resilience against climate-related shocks.

The business faces challenges including insecurity in northern Nigeria, unpredictable weather and fluctuations in agricultural commodity prices. These pressures can increase operating costs, disrupt field activities, and affect farmers’ returns.

The IFC’s advisory support is intended to strengthen the systems and financial relationships underpinning Babban Gona’s expansion. If successful, the project could help more Nigerian smallholder farmers access formal credit, improve agricultural productivity and contribute to the country’s food security.