NIGERIA – ThriveAgric, a fast-growing technology-driven agricultural company, has raised US$56.4 million in debt funding from local commercial banks and institutional investors to accelerate expansion plans.

The raise also included a co-investment grant of US$1.75 million from the USAID-funded West Africa Trade & Investment.

The new investment will enable the company to grow its 200,000+ farmer base, and expand into new African markets, including Ghana, Zambia, and Kenya.

Founded in 2017, ThriveAgric empowers farmers in Nigeria to sell their products to FMCGs and food processors, leveraging its proprietary technology to access finance as well as improve productivity and sales to promote food security.

The technology, an Agricultural Operating System (AOS), works entirely offline, dispatches USSD to farmers, and powers Android apps used by field agents to help digitally collate creditworthy farmers and gather relevant farm data.

This latest funding follows US$9 million the company raised in 2020. Over the past 12 months, ThriveAgric’s revenues have increased five-fold, with a year-on-year increase of 277% in farmer numbers.

The strong margin performance was boosted by farmers using the company’s AOS proprietary product.

The company supports Africa’s agriculture sector by assisting smallholder farmers in producing high-quality grains.

Harvests, including maize, rice, and soybeans, are stored in many of the company’s 450+ warehouses in Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina states in Nigeria, before being commoditized and offered to local and global trade markets at a premium price.

The new investment takes us one step closer to fulfilling our mission of building the largest network of profitable African farmers using technology, to ensure food security,” said Uka Eje, Chief Executive Officer ThriveAgric.

ThriveAgric has increased its footprint to 20 states in Nigeria, and we look forward to a lengthy period of growth as we continue to link African farmers to capital, data-driven best practices, and access to local and global markets for their commodities.”

Smallholder farmers constitute over 80% of the Nigerian agriculture industry. Access to finance, advisory, and markets are significant barriers. Nearly 72% live below the poverty line on less than $1.90 a day.

Farmers assisted by ThriveAgric can charge premium rates for their commodities, allowing them to increase their incomes up to 25 percent.

At the height of the global pandemic, business and supply disruptions prevented ThriveAgric from fulfilling obligations to its subscribers, leading to swift appointments of key personnel, including Olurotimi Arigbede, Chief Financial Officer, and Michael Kadiri, Head of Risk Management and Compliance.

Under the strengthened management structure, the company settled all outstanding disputes with subscribers.

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