Africa Scholarship for Farmers 2026 (Full Guide + Opportunities)

Africa Scholarship for Farmers 2026 (Full Guide + Opportunities)

Africa Scholarship for Farmers 2026 (Full Guide + Opportunities);   Farmers across Africa in 2026 have increasing access to fully funded scholarships, training grants, agricultural fellowship programs, and agribusiness development awards. These initiatives target smallholder farmers, youth in agriculture, women farmers, and professionals pursuing agricultural science, sustainability, or agritech innovation.

Below is a comprehensive guide to the top African and international scholarships available for farmers in 2026.

1. African Development Bank (AfDB) Agriculture Training Scholarship 2026

Overview

AfDB runs capacity-building programs for farmers, focusing on:

  • Climate-smart agriculture

  • Irrigation technology

  • Agribusiness management

  • Post-harvest handling

  • Digital farming (drones, sensors, AI tools)

Who Can Apply

  • Smallholder farmers aged 18–55

  • Women farmers

  • Cooperative/association leaders

  • Agripreneurs and farm owners

Benefits

Application Link

https://www.afdb.org/en — (navigate to Agriculture & Food Security → Capacity Building)

2. MasterCard Foundation – Young Africa Works Farmers Scholarship 2026

What It Covers

A flagship program supporting young farmers (18–35) in:

  • Sustainable livestock

  • Crop production

  • Mechanized farming

  • Agribusiness and food processing

Fully Funded Benefits

  • 100% tuition for certificate or diploma

  • Business start-up grants up to $10,000

  • Seed capital for youth-driven farms

  • One-year mentorship

Eligible Countries

Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal.

How to Apply

https://mastercardfdn.org

3. AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) Farmer Training Scholarships 2026

Focus Areas

  • Soil fertility & fertilizer use

  • Maize, rice, and cassava improvement

  • Seed production

  • Market access & cooperative development

Eligibility

  • Members of farmer associations

  • Women in agriculture

  • Youth in rural communities

Funding

  • Fully funded 3–6 month agricultural training

  • Implements: hoes, sprayers, fertilizer, improved seeds

  • Transport allowance

Application Link

https://agra.org/opportunities

4. FAO Africa Rural Farmers Scholarship Program 2026

Scholarship Type

  • Short courses (1–12 months)

  • Capacity development

  • Farmer-to-farmer exchange programs

Benefits

  • Fully funded training

  • Free farm inputs and technology introduction

  • Nutrition/agronomy training

  • Support for climate resilience projects

Eligible Regions

  • East, West, North, Southern Africa

Application Link

https://www.fao.org/africa

5. IFAD Rural Youth Agripreneur Scholarship 2026

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) supports young rural farmers.

Funding Includes

  • 100% tuition

  • Stipend

  • Accommodation

  • Tools for startup mini-farming projects

Eligibility

  • 18–40 years

  • Must own or plan to start a farm enterprise

Key Focus Areas

  • Irrigation

  • Agribusiness digital solutions

  • Organic farming

  • Poultry & livestock

How to Apply

https://www.ifad.org/en

6. African Union – Pan-African Agribusiness Scholarship 2026

Overview

A scholarship for African farmers and entrepreneurs seeking agricultural leadership training.

Fully Funded Package

  • Tuition

  • Visa support

  • International travel to AU training centers

  • Free accommodation

  • Project funding ($3,000–$15,000)

Eligibility

Application

https://au.int/en

7. The Mandela Washington Fellowship – Agriculture Track 2026

Part of the U.S. Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

Who It Targets

  • Emerging leaders in agriculture

  • Agribusiness founders

  • Cooperative leaders

Benefits

  • Fully funded 6-week training in U.S. universities

  • Funding for farm innovations

  • Access to USAID partners

Application Link

https://yali.state.gov

8. One Acre Fund – Africa Farmer Scholarship 2026

Supports

  • Maize farmers

  • Bean farmers

  • Harvest improvement training

  • Low-cost solar irrigation kits

Benefits

  • Free training

  • Fertilizer and hybrid seeds on credit

  • Scholarships for farmer leaders

Countries Covered

Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Burundi, Malawi, Zambia.

Apply

https://oneacrefund.org

9. World Bank Africa Agritech Scholarship 2026

Program Highlights

The World Bank supports digital agriculture and farm mechanization.

Fully Funded Offer

  • Tuition

  • Field practical training

  • Tablet or farm-tech device

  • Research grant

Eligibility

  • Tech-savvy farmers

  • Agribusiness investors

  • Agricultural researchers

Application

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr

10. National Government Scholarships for Farmers (Country-Specific)

Examples

  • Nigeria: FMARD Farmer Training Grants 2026

  • Ghana: MoFA Farmer Scholarship Scheme

  • Kenya: Big 4 Agriculture Training Scholarship

  • South Africa: DAFF Bursaries 2026 (fully funded agriculture degrees)

Benefits typically include

  • Free training

  • Agricultural inputs

  • Livestock support

  • Financing and cooperative development

You can check your local Ministry of Agriculture website for 2026 calls.

Documents Required for Most Applications

  • National ID / Passport

  • Proof of farming activity (farm pictures or membership certificate)

  • Recommendation from local chief/cooperative

  • Academic certificates (if applying for academic programs)

  • Project proposal (for agribusiness grants)

Tips to Increase Your Chances of Selection

  1. Show evidence of community impact (number of farmers you influence).

  2. Describe a real farming challenge in your area and how training will help solve it.

  3. Highlight innovation — irrigation, improved seeds, mechanization, etc.

  4. Emphasize sustainability and climate resilience.

  5. Apply early — most scholarships close between February and June 2026.

Conclusion

Africa Scholarship for Farmers 2026 offers fully funded opportunities for farmers, agribusiness owners, youth in agriculture, and rural women. Whether you want training, farm input support, business funding, or a full academic scholarship, the programs above provide broad chances to grow your skills and expand your farming business.

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