Through our programs and partnerships, FINCA is advancing sustainable agriculture, improving the lives of small farmers, reducing the threat of climate change and expanding access to food for millions of people.
Around the world, 1 in 4 people struggle to access or afford a healthy and nutritious diet. This fact is even more devastating given that the world produces more than enough food to feed the entire planet, but one-third of the food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. Investments in good agricultural practices and improving supply chains has the potential to address these global failures. In addition, bad agricultural practices can unnecessarily increase greenhouse gas emissions with the negative impacts of climate change most likely to harm the poor.
Since its founding, FINCA has developed financial services specifically targeted at farmers. Today, we also are partnering with innovative social enterprises to address agriculture-related issues. We’re investing in interventions that increase crop yields, streamline food supply chains and ensure a farmer has rights to and receive fair prices for her crops.
Good Nature Agro (GNA) is a social enterprise FINCA works with that is improving the lives of farmers and creating more sustainable farming methods. GNA provides farmers with soil-enriching legume seeds, supplies and trainings at the beginning of the growing season. At the end of the season, GNA buys her crops at a fair market price.
Thanks to GNA’s work, farmers can sustainably increase their yields, receive fair prices, and have a source of income for years to come. In addition to giving farmers a better standard of living, they are improving food security for entire communities.
East Africa Fruits (EAF) is a social enterprise working to improve the food supply chain in Africa. With more than 50% of food grown in Africa lost on its way to market as it goes through multiple under-resourced middlemen, EAF is addressing a huge inefficiency. By investing in a cold-supply chain and taking fruit and vegetables directly from farmers to retail outlets, EAF ensures that more food reaches people’s tables and more money ends up in farmers’ pockets.
Around the world, FINCA subsidiaries provide agricultural loans and other financial services specifically designed for farmers. Thanks to these services, farmers can enhance their productivity and distribution methods. This increases the farmers’ profits and can increase the community’s access to healthy food as well as local food security.
FINCA Kosovo is one of many FINCA subsidiaries to have created a financial product specifically for farmers. A woman raising pigs or goats or growing vegetables has a very different cash flow than a seamstress or shop owner. The investment that she makes in seeds or improved irrigation won’t pay off for many months. FINCA’s agricultural loan products take these needs into account, ensuring that her payments match her revenue stream.
Stories of Resilience
Access to sustainable agriculture methods and practices, as well as an improved supply chain, empowers small farmers. It can help them increase their yields and their incomes. More importantly, it lifts up communities and countries that benefit from improved access to sustainable and healthy food. Many of our ag-related activities also help reduce climate change. The following stories demonstrate just how big a difference a small intervention can make.
After losing all his crops on his farm in Haiti, August Jean Soliny was able to rebuild his farm and provide for his family, thanks to FINCA’s agricultural loans.
For World Food Day, here are three new things that FINCA is doing to fight hunger in Africa and the rest of the world.
Streamlining the farm-to-market process, FINCA partner East Africa Fruits is helping both farmers and vendors. Read more.