We work with our field partners on customized agricultural loans to farmers needing credit to purchase seeds and other inputs at the start of the growing season. Farmers tend to have larger credit needs and nine to twelve month growth cycles. But weekly loan repayment schedules of traditional microfinance don’t work for farmers, mainly because they cannot start repaying loans until they harvest.

We give loans on regular repayment schedules to finance dairy, poultry, horticultural, and other products specifically chosen to create immediate cash flow. This is to protect farmers from seasonal risks inherent in agriculture and diversify their sources of income.

Our loans are specifically provided for installing cost-efficient systems and improving storage and distribution facilities. The loans also help build missing links in the value chain to optimize resources and promote sustainability. For instance, funding local women micro-entrepreneurs selling organic fertilizers to small farmers.

We aim to promote promising and affordable technologies, such as the drip irrigation system that optimizes water productivity and increases agricultural yield. Such innovations enable small farmers to generate a higher output of quality products at lower costs.