| 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. |