NCBA Group has partnered with Kenya Seed Company to expand financial and technical support for maize seed farmers in western Kenya, as lenders and agribusiness firms intensify efforts to strengthen agricultural productivity ahead of the 2026 planting season.
More than 150 maize seed growers gathered in Kitale, in Trans Nzoia County, for an agripreneurs’ forum hosted by the two organizations aimed at improving access to financing, boosting productivity and strengthening market linkages across the maize value chain.
The event, held under the theme “Financing the 2026 Planting Season: Productivity and Market Linkages,” brought together farmers, agribusiness traders and industry specialists to discuss funding options and business advisory support tailored to agricultural enterprises.
Kitale sits at the center of Kenya’s grain belt, producing maize valued at more than 23 billion shillings ($178 million) annually, according to national statistics. The region’s agriculture sector is also diversifying into dairy, poultry, aquaculture and higher-value crops, supported by growing agro-processing capacity.
Banks are increasingly targeting agricultural supply chains as they seek to grow lending to small and medium-sized enterprises while supporting food security in East Africa’s largest economy.
“Our approach goes beyond financing,” said Robert Kiboti, director of commercial and SME banking at NCBA. “We are building ecosystems that connect farmers to inputs, technical expertise and reliable markets.”
Kiboti said the partnership with Kenya Seed is designed to help farmers access credit aligned with planting cycles while improving productivity and sustainability within structured agricultural value chains.
NCBA has been expanding its agribusiness financing in Trans Nzoia and surrounding regions through a range of products targeting farmers and agricultural traders. These include livestock financing programs such as structured beef-fattening initiatives, asset finance for farm equipment in partnership with Inchcape plc, and working capital facilities for agri-SMEs and distributors.
The bank also provides trade finance instruments such as letters of credit to help agricultural exporters access regional and global markets.
Kenya Seed said the collaboration is aimed at addressing one of the sector’s biggest constraints — access to affordable financing.
“Access to affordable and timely financing remains one of the biggest challenges facing seed growers,” said Nicholas Sang, production manager at Kenya Seed Company. “By combining quality seed production with structured financing and farmer education, we are supporting improved yields, stronger value chains and greater income stability for farmers.”
The partnership reflects a broader strategy by NCBA to combine financing with farmer training and market linkages as it expands lending to Kenya’s agricultural sector, which remains a key driver of economic growth and rural employment.
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