The federal government has tasked the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) to develop affordable, timely and responsive financing products capable of meeting the peculiar needs of farmers and agribusinesses as a cornerstone of national food security and economic transformation. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari said access to appropriate finance remained critical to achieving food security, job creation, poverty reduction and agro-industrial development. The minister said agricultural financing must go beyond making funds available, stressing that the BOA should design products that reflect the seasonal nature of farming and the different financing requirements of individual agricultural value chains. Chairman of the BOA board, Muhammad Babangida, said the board recognised the strategic responsibility placed on it and would focus on strengthening corporate governance, strategic oversight and management accountability. He said the board’s performance should ultimately be measured by the impact the institution makes on farmers, agribusinesses, rural communities, food production, employment and national food security.