The Agricultural Finance Year Book 2019

Abstract

The 2019 Agricultural Finance Yearbook, which is the ninth edition in the series and coincides with the 10th anniversary of Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF), offers an in-depth analysis of the trends in the sector performance, with particular emphasis on interventions to promote agro-industrialisation. Chapter One of the book examines the trends in agriculture lending by both government and private financial institutions, the performance and implementation of the Bank of Uganda managed Agriculture Credit Facility over the last ten years; progress and lessons from the Agriculture Insurance Scheme; the rationale for an agriculture finance policy and the implication of the Tier-4 regulatory framework for agriculture finance. A key lesson drawn is that implementation challenges notwithstanding, the uptake of agriculture credit facilities offered by government and partners has steadily increased. This is reflected in portfolio of loans disbursed under ACF amounting to UGX 331 Billion, extended to 525 projects across the country, as at March 2019, as well as provision of complementary financial products by private institutions. Chapter Two of the book critically analyses the innovations that have impacted on the sector with a view to accelerating financial inclusion, such as the introduction and operationalisation of digital payments across the agriculture value chain, easing access to agriculture loans through agent banking, developments in collateral financing through the Warehouse Receipts System. In addition, the book chronicles unique innovations like Centenary Bank’s CenteSupa Woman club as well as interventions to encourage Agricultural Small Medium Enterprise (SME) lending. In the third chapter, evidence is provided using case studies, to examine the financing of agricultural value chains. This includes the role of Public-Private Producer Partnerships in the case of oil palm; financing the country’s integration in the global value chain referring to the case of cotton and textile industry, modalities employed by the development partners and private actors in financing the coffee value chain as well as looking at the development partners perspectives in the case of maize value chain financing in Uganda. Chapter Four assesses the opportunities for equity investments in the agriculture sector, use of credit guarantees to finance agriculture, capacities and institutional governance of Savings and Credit Cooperatives Associations Organisation—all aimed at boosting investments in agriculture sector. I appreciate EPRC’s role of fostering sustainable growth and development of the Ugandan economy by advancing the role of research in policy processes. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development shall continue to ensure that financing of agriculture is a priority. I highly recommend this insightful book to all stakeholders working in, or with an interest in, the agricultural sector in Uganda.