USAID AGRO supports Ukrainian farmers with over UAH 1.14 bln in 2024

The USAID's Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities Activity (USAID AGRO) supported 1,200 Ukrainian farmers in 2024, enabling them to access over UAH 1.14 billion through financial instruments such as commodity loans, leasing, and agro-payment plans, according to a press release on the program's Facebook page.

"With the onset of full-scale war, it became clear that farmers needed financial products offered by the non-banking sector more than ever: commodity loans, leasing (including reverse leasing and factoring), and agro-payment plans," the statement said.

Farmers received over UAH 1 billion in commodity loans in 2024 to purchase seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection products with deferred payment until harvest. The loans, provided by seven partner organizations, often did not require "hard collateral" and allowed repayment in cash or grain.

Additionally, agro-payment plans through WEAGRO, an online platform by Activitis financial company, provided UAH 44 million in financing. Farmers could receive approval for deferred payment within 30 minutes and access funds within two hours without direct interaction with the financial company.

USAID AGRO also supported the "Digital Leasing in Three Clicks in Three Days" platform by ESKA Capital, which financed nearly UAH 100 million for farmers. The initiative offers unique benefits, including up to 15 years of equipment leasing, reverse leasing, and financing for farmers near conflict zones, all without bureaucratic hurdles and with the ability to sign contracts online.

Looking ahead, USAID AGRO plans to continue supporting these projects in 2025 and introduce two new initiatives: developing a secondary market for commodity loans and financing farmers through agricultural notes.