Opportunity International Invests $500M to Empower Smallholder Farmers in Africa 

Opportunity International, a global nonprofit focused on eradicating extreme poverty through inclusive finance, has reached a transformative milestone: $500 million invested in smallholder agriculture through its Agriculture Finance program. This achievement underscores the organization’s dedication to supporting rural farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa, empowering over one million smallholder households through affordable loans, training, and digital solutions.

Working in partnership with 26 financial service providers (FSPs) across 12 countries, Opportunity International delivers a comprehensive approach to rural financing. The Agriculture Finance program provides small-scale farmers with access to low-cost loans, agricultural training, community-based support, and digital tools, enabling them to adopt sustainable farming methods, boost productivity, and generate increased incomes.

“Investing in the people who feed the world is one of the most effective ways to break the cycle of poverty,” said Atul Tandon, CEO of Opportunity International. “This $500 million milestone is a testament to what can happen when we equip smallholder farmers with tools and capital—families are fed, economies grow, and we move closer to ending extreme poverty.”

Smallholder farmers, typically managing plots of five acres or less, are vital to global food security. They produce up to 80% of food in low- and middle-income countries and approximately 30% of the world’s total food supply. Yet, they remain among the world’s most vulnerable populations. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, smallholders are the most likely to face extreme poverty and hunger, with an annual financing gap exceeding $170 billion globally.

Opportunity International’s Agriculture Finance program addresses this gap through blended capital solutions—including funded deposits, low-interest loans, and long-term guarantees—that reduce financial risk for local lenders and make loans more accessible for farmers.

“Rural farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa currently produce at only 20–40% of their potential, and we aim to change that,” said Tim Strong, Head of Agriculture Finance at Opportunity. “Our work helps ensure families are nourished, children are educated, and rural communities can thrive.”

In addition to financing, Opportunity International has launched innovative initiatives to strengthen its impact:

• Farmer Support Network: Over 1,700 trained Farmer Support Agents (FSAs) are embedded in communities across Africa, providing ongoing agricultural guidance and linking over 510,000 farmers to training and resources.
• AI-Powered Digital Tools: In 2024, FSAs received access to a generative AI chatbot developed in-house. Integrated via WhatsApp and available in local languages, the tool offers hyper-local agricultural advice, already helping thousands of farmers in Malawi respond to droughts, pests, and market changes. The technology is now expanding to Ghana and Kenya.
• Regenerative Agriculture Programs: Opportunity’s new initiatives promote sustainable farming methods that improve soil health and biodiversity. In pilot projects, maize yields grew by an average of 48% on regenerative plots compared to conventional ones.

According to Opportunity International’s 2024 Impact Report, the Agriculture Finance program directly contributed to the creation or preservation of over 2.1 million jobs last year, demonstrating how targeted investment in smallholder agriculture can drive widespread economic and social transformation.

With this $500 million milestone, Opportunity International continues to lead in inclusive agricultural finance, forging a future where smallholder farmers not only survive—but thrive.