Empowering Farmers and Fisherfolks through Agricultural Financing

Agricultural financing remains as one of the most significant components towards achievement of agricultural development, especially in the developing countries such as the Philippines. Republic Act 10000 or the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act is one of the important pieces of legislation in the country that could supposedly empower smallholder farmers, fisherfolks, and all the stakeholders in the agricultural value chain through agricultural financing. The law mandates the financing sector to allocate 25% of their funds where 15% will go to the agriculture sector while 10% to the agrarian reform beneficiaries, to finance the activities of these sectors. However, there have been issues challenging the adoption of this law because banks would rather pay fines than provide loans and other financial instruments to the high-risk sector. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the senate are looking at strengthening the implementation of the law, providing innovative solutions, and amending some of its provisions to expand the activities that can be financed. On the other hand, other financial institutions are offering different financing opportunities to continuously give the agriculture and fisheries sectors access to financing. This webinar session aims to: 1. Present the current situation of agricultural financing in the country 2. Inform the stakeholders about the current initiatives, programs and opportunities of government institutions such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Land Bank of the Philippines 3. Present the challenges, programs and opportunities of different financing institutions other than banks to make agri-financing available and accessible to all the stakeholders of the agriculture and fisheries sector

Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oqBqQ0kkRjeyx83-bYe-Rg