Financial constraints can be great barriers to successful farming. Here in this post, we will look at easily accessible farmer loans.
Which bank gives loans to farmers?
For most farmers, funding comes from savings, gifts, and sometimes financial support from family, friends, or spouses.
The story may not be the same for everyone, especially farmers who do not have access to internal financial support, such as savings, family, and friends, and must rely on external financial institutions for assistance.
Obtaining external financial assistance is likewise not simple. 70 – 80% of farmers’ proposal for funding or loan acquisition gets rejected because they do not have bookkeeping of farm records, poor financial projections, and financial analysis.
Having good records of your farm is one way of earning trust from someone or an institution willing to pump any assistance to the farm. Records give good remarks about your production. Cash-in-flow and cash-out-flow mostly determine your eligibility for a loan or other financial assistance.
Loans for farmers’ acquisition come with requirements and differ with institutions or sources. Every source will need specific requirements from you to grant your eligibility.
List of Loans for Farmers in Ghana
Agricultural Production Loan
Stanbic Bank Ghana provides these loans for farmers’ services for farmers who need short-term credit to pay input costs.
Requirements
- Business registration documents
- Six months’ statements from another bank
- Three years’ financial statements and cash flows
- Collateral may be required
- Favorable credit bureau report
- You may need to meet other conditions or provide more documents subject to specific borrower conditions.
Potential Returns on Loans for Farmers
- Competitive interest rates
- Access to funds that are not usually available
- A choice on who you want to enter into a grain marketing contract with and when
- Flexibility when buying supplies as you don’t have to go through co-operatives
- You do not have to give them the usual forms of security
- Reduced risk because of Comprehensive Crop Insurance and fixed-price contracts
- The full amount must be repaid at the end of the season. The term of loans for farmers is usually one year, but it can be extended to three years, depending on your cropping cycle.
Financial institutions in Ghana that offer loans for farming
1. Agricultural Loan By ADB
The Agricultural Development Bank Ghana (ADB) grants farmers short-term, medium-term, and long-term loans.
At Agricultural Development Bank, a short-term loan is typically given as working capital to cover the costs of agricultural production, transportation, and marketing. The short-term option can be taken out for up to 18 months.
Purchase of farm equipment, livestock raising, and processing equipment are all examples of medium-term loans. The length of a medium-term loan ranges from 18 to 36 months and,
A long-term loan is for new and existing projects that require a large upfront investment and/or a long gestation time, such as the creation of plantations or cattle ranches. Long-term loans are typically between 36 and 84 months in length.
Requirements
- Submission of business proposal
- Opening of account with the Bank
- Details of account operation with other financial institutions.
- Evidence of managerial capability to handle projects.
- Evidence that the project is not environmentally harmful
- Evidence that the project can generate adequate cash flows to support repayment of the facility.
- Provision of security acceptable to the Bank
Aside from these two banks mentioned above with a high reputation when it comes to loans for farmers, there are government initiatives established to assist farmers financially.
2. Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme (GASIP)
The initiative is run by the Ghanaian government in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Its goal is to create a framework for long-term funding for the growth of Ghana’s agriculture value chain. Their main goal is to help Ghana’s rural communities achieve long-term poverty reduction.
The program has a nationwide scope and serves as a foundation for agriculture value chain development investment. They hope to improve farmers’ competitiveness by enhancing their ability to adapt to market demand.
3. Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP)
The government of Ghana’s agriculture sector has launched the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP). This initiative aims to encourage young people to accept and value farming and animal husbandry as business endeavors.
As a result, teenagers in Ghana are accepting farming as a commercial business enterprise and making it a lifetime job. The Youth in Agriculture Programme raises the living level for youth by providing a steady source of income.
4. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) backs Ghana’s government’s Shared Growth and Development Agenda. The goal of this effort is to hasten agricultural modernization. It also aids in the improvement of private-sector competitiveness and the enhancement of sustainable natural resource management.
They also assist underprivileged entrepreneurs in taking advantage of local chances provided by the government in order to better their living conditions. Farmers, young people in rural areas, and women are targeted, with investments made in their off-farm and farm activities.
Finally, loans to farmers in Ghana are a powerful tool for modernizing agriculture. Furthermore, government measures should make it easier for young agricultural entrepreneurs to turn their skills and knowledge into viable enterprises.
