The West Africa Support for Small and Mid-scale Agro Startup (WASSMAS) programme has opened applications for its Agriculture Grant, a funding and capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening small and mid-scale agricultural businesses across the region.
The programme targets startups working along key agricultural value chains and is open to applicants in Nigeria and other ECOWAS member countries.
Under the scheme, selected beneficiaries will receive grant funding of up to $10,000, alongside non-financial support such as training, mentorship, technical assistance, equipment support and access to markets.
WASSMAS is designed to improve productivity, sustainability and entrepreneurship among agro-based startups operating at small and mid-scale levels.
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Eligible fields include crop cultivation such as rice, maize, cassava and vegetables; livestock farming including cattle, poultry and small ruminants; fish farming covering tilapia and catfish; agro-processing; integrated farming systems; as well as small ruminant and pig farming.
The programme combines financial support with hands-on technical guidance to help businesses scale effectively.
The grant is open to small and mid-scale agricultural startups, farmers and agro-entrepreneurs aged 18 years and above who are actively engaged in eligible agricultural activities.
Applications will be assessed based on the scale and viability of operations, alignment with the programme’s focus areas, and the potential for growth and impact within the agricultural value chain.
While the application deadline has not been specified, interested applicants are advised to apply early through the official WASSMAS online application portal by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the grant page. The programme will be implemented across West Africa, with operations hosted in Nigeria.
