New investments in Agric via the Banks coming. This is good news
LAGOS—Banks have set aside N26 billion for equity investment in agriculture, small and medium enterprises, SMEs.
These were highlights of the 333rd Bankers Committee meeting held in Lagos, yesterday.
Addressing a press conference at the end of the meeting, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs Bola Adesola, said banks had set aside five percent of profit after tax for equity investment in agriculture and SMEs, as agreed at the last Bankers Committee retreat.
She spoke in company of Director, Banking Supervision, CBN, Ahmad Abdullahi; Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo; Managing Director/Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Plc, Mr. Demola Sogunle, and Director, Corporate Communications Department CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor.
Adesola said: “After the audited results of the banks have been published, we all contributed five per cent of our PAT to a fund in CBN towards contributing equity to agric and small and medium enterprise. As you know, many companies cannot just survive on debt because of the cost of debt. So, long term capital is required to catalyse the growth in SMEs and make them more viable and sustainable.
“We are doing our own bit to support them. Right now, we have N26 billion in the fund and we are working on the framework for the investment. We are looking at partnerships, we are looking at co-investing with private equity firms as well and the objective is to catalyse growth in SMEs to ease access to finance to build capacity in the agric and SME sectors, to create jobs and ultimately to improve prosperity.”
Okonkwo, on his part, announced the decision of the committee directing banks to stop charging for BVN registration.
He said: “One key issue that came up today is the issue of the customers of microfinance banks, MFBs, who do not yet have their Biometric Verification Number, BVN, registered.
“Some feedback that we got at the committee was that some banks charge customers when they try to register. So, the Bankers Committee agreed today that MFB customers can walk into any bank and register their BVN free of charge. This is to make sure that we don’t discourage people from being financially included.”
Abdullahi, on his part, said that the Bankers Committee discussed recent developments in the economy and was optimistic that the country will return to positive economic growth by the third quarter.
He said: “It is almost obvious that by the end of the third quarter, we are going to have a positive GDP growth and there are a number of indices that are trending towards that: inflation is about 16.4 per cent, up from close to 19 per cent. The exchange rate has largely been stable and we have seen convergence with even the investors and exporters (I& E) window and confidence is rebuilding. Generally, because of increased oil production and stable crude prices, the economy would remain robust.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/bank ... gric-smes/
Banks earmark N26bn for investment in agric
Re: Banks earmark N26bn for investment in agric
How can students of agriculture, particularly those under the umbrella of the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Students (NAAS) access this fund?
Re: Banks earmark N26bn for investment in agric
I think as students you have options. check out the guidelines from CBN. Check out the bold sections
How can a corporate body (state or LGA) use the Agric Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) Scheme to benefit its host community?
By establishing a Trust Fund with banks that will serve as the platform for lending to the host community: the Trust Fund will form part of the guarantee.
How easy is it to benefit from agric credit?
You will need to discuss your proposal with your bank, complete necessary application forms, and provide all the required information including things like size of your farm, project cost, your own financial commitment, expected output returns and profitability of the project.
How long can one’s ACGSF loan last?
It depends on the gestation period of the agricultural activity you are engaged in.
How many times can I benefit from ACGS?
As many times as you wish provided you maintain good track record repayment record with your bank
How many times can I benefit from ACGSF?
As many times as you wish provided you maintained good loan repayment record with your bank.
Is the ACGSF for only big farmers?
Small farmers have benefited immensely from ACGS. This group of farmers form 90% of the beneficiaries since the inception of the Scheme.
What are the advantages of having collateral under the ACGSF?
It means you can obtain a loan of up to N1.0 million as an individual or up to N10.0 million as a cooperative society or corporate entity.
What are the requirements for benefiting from ACGSF?
You must be a farmer. If your loan application is above N20, 000.00, the lending bank would require you to provide collateral. The collateral could be in tangible form or in form of 25% cash security of the intended loan amount
What if you do not have collateral for an ACGSF loan?
You can still obtain a loan of N20,000.00 and below supported with a personal guarantee from a reputable person in your community or more than N20,000.00 through being a member of Self Help Group or Cooperative Society.
What is the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund?
The Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) was established by Decree No. 20 of 1977 to mitigate the risks of banks in agricultural lending and hence encourage them to continue to extend credit to it. The Scheme guarantees 75% of all outstanding loans in case of default , and after realizing the security. The Scheme is managed by the CBN, through its Development Finance Department. The Scheme has an eight-man Board..
What is the minimum loan covered under ACGSF?
N20,000.00 (twenty thousand naira) and below without collateral. For amounts higher than N20,000.00, you will need to provide collateral.
What is the process of obtaining an ACGSF loan?
A farmer intending to obtain a loan must first open account with a bank operating the Agric Credit Guarantee Scheme. You should request for the ACGS application form, complete and return to the bank. You will provide collateral for the loan amount required except where the loans do not require collateral. Finally, you will also need insurance cover from the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC).
What kind of collateral is acceptable for an ACGSF loan?
You can use cash in the bank, stock and shares, life insurance policies, landed property, debenture, guarantors and any other item acceptable by the lending bank.
Which agricultural activities qualify for guarantee under the ACGSF?
The agricultural activities eligible for guarantee under the Scheme, include the following: (i) The establishment or management of the production of rubber, oil palm, cocoa, coffee, tea and similar crops; (ii) The cultivation or production of cereal crops, tubers, fruits of all kinds, cotton, beans, groundnuts, sheanuts, benniseed, vegetables, pineapples, banana and plantains; (iii) Animal husbandry viz, poultry, piggery, cattle rearing and the like, fish farming and fish capture and (iv) Processing in general where it is integrated with at least 50.0 per cent of farm output e.g. cassava to garri, oil palm to palm oil and kernel, groundnut to groundnut oil, etc.
Will the usual lending rate apply under the ACGSF?
Under the ACGSF, farmers will borrow from lending banks including community banks at market-determined rates.
http://www.cbn.gov.ng/FAQS/FAQ.asp?cate ... Fund+ACGSF
