XchangeBox unveils platform to speed up farmer payments

Nigerian agri-fintech start-up XchangeBox is addressing a long-standing challenge in the country’s agricultural sector by cutting payment delays for farmers and streamlining cash flow across the supply chain.

The Abuja-based platform connects farmers, factories, and investors in a single, structured ecosystem designed to ensure faster, transparent payments and sustained liquidity. Traditionally, farmers in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa have faced delays of 60 to 90 days after delivering produce to factories, slowing reinvestment and limiting productivity. Factories, in turn, struggle with unpredictable supply, while investors often avoid the sector due to perceived risks.

XchangeBox’s platform tackles this problem by allowing farmers to receive payments within days of delivery. Factories confirm purchase and payment cycles, and investors can crowd-fund these transactions. Investors earn monthly returns on verified trades, while factories maintain their standard 90-day payment cycles without cash flow disruptions.

“Farmers, factories, investors: three different worlds, all tied by one problem, delayed cash flow,” Co-Founder and Co-CEO of XchangeBox, Abiola Jimoh, told The PUNCH. “In agriculture, timing is everything. A farmer can deliver 50 tonnes of maize today but may still wait months before receiving payment. We built a platform that ensures liquidity flows efficiently, trust grows, and production expands.”

XchangeBox focuses on key agricultural commodities, including sesame seeds, hibiscus flowers, charcoal, grains, and fruits used in food production and processing. By aligning farmers, factories, and investors in a transparent and bankable system, the start-up aims to expand Africa’s agricultural economy while promoting financial inclusion.

With over four years of experience in Nigeria’s agri-finance and fintech sectors, XchangeBox has emphasised that innovation is not only about technology but also about trust, structure, and sustainability. The platform is designed to empower rural communities, help factories scale sustainably, and create opportunities for investors to participate confidently in the agricultural value chain.

“The goal is simple,” Jimoh added. “When liquidity flows, trust grows. When trust grows, production expands. And when production expands, Africa’s agricultural economy thrives.”