In 2021, CSAF members issued loans totalling USD 756 million to 641 businesses sourcing from 2.5 million farmers.Lending increased substantially - by 35% - after a drop in 2020, as lenders adjusted to navigating COVID and supply chain disruptions and focused on increasing support for growing and maturing businesses.

Judith Santbergen, Fund Manager Hivos-Triodos Fonds: “It is good to see the 35% increase in lending but challenges remain. The businesses that we finance are exposed to complex and often interrelated challenges. Increasingly unpredictable climatic conditions, extreme weather events, the impact of COVID-19 and volatile market prices have a ripple effect through agricultural supply chains. This only strengthens our commitment to support the growth and development of a diverse finance market for agricultural businesses, thereby catalysing the huge benefits this brings for millions of small-scale farmers.”

About CSAF

CSAF is an alliance of lending institutions with a shared commitment to building an inclusive and sustainable financial market for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture sector in developing countries worldwide. Founded in 2012 as a forum for lenders to share learning, CSAF now includes 17 members committed to market growth and impact.

Explore the full 2022 State of the Sector report to learn more about the trends, opportunities and challenges associated with smallholder agricultural finance.

Hivos-Triodos Fonds

Catalysing green, inclusive growth

Among the activities of Hivos-Triodos Fonds is the provision of value chain finance to agricultural exporters in developing countries. Read the article about UCHU in Latin America