NCBA Group and Kenya Seed Company brought together more than 150 maize seed farmers in Kitale for an agribusiness forum aimed at improving access to financing, boosting productivity and strengthening market linkages ahead of the 2026 planting season.
The engagement, held under the theme “Financing the 2026 Planting Season: Productivity and Market Linkages,” convened farmers, agribusiness traders and industry experts in Trans-Nzoia County, one of Kenya’s most important grain-producing regions.
Participants received financial literacy training and advisory support while interacting with NCBA specialists on agribusiness financing solutions tailored for agricultural enterprises. The initiative is part of the bank’s strategy to strengthen agricultural value chains and expand lending to farmers and agri-SMEs.
Kitale lies at the centre of Kenya’s maize belt, with the region producing maize valued at more than KSh23 billion annually, according to national statistics. Agriculture in the area is also diversifying into dairy, poultry, aquaculture and other high-value crops, supported by expanding agro-processing infrastructure.
Robert Kiboti, director of commercial and SME banking at NCBA, said the lender’s strategy goes beyond traditional lending to building integrated agricultural ecosystems.
“Our approach goes beyond financing. We are building ecosystems that connect farmers to inputs, technical expertise and reliable markets,” Kiboti said.
NCBA said it is expanding agribusiness financing in the region through programmes including structured livestock financing, asset finance for farm machinery in partnership with Inchcape plc, and working capital facilities for agricultural SMEs and traders. The bank also provides trade finance instruments such as letters of credit to support agricultural exporters entering regional and global markets.
Nicholas Sang, production manager at Kenya Seed Company, said access to affordable financing remains a major constraint for seed growers.
“Access to affordable and timely financing remains one of the biggest challenges facing seed growers,” Sang said, adding that structured financing and farmer education can help improve yields and stabilise incomes.
The partnership reflects a broader push by lenders and agribusiness firms to strengthen agricultural productivity and food security in East Africa’s largest economy while expanding financing to small and medium-sized enterprises in the farming sector.