Partial Credit Guarantee

Brief
Some subprojects will need productive inputs (seed, fertilizer, working capital) that may require external financing as its not provided for under matching grants, if the POs lack funds. The PCG Fund (US$3 million) will reduce risk for selected financial institutions in supporting new borrowers and commodities by providing guarantees for their loans to the project POs.

Eligibility
Both Offtakers and producer organisations under a productive alliance are eligible to apply for PCG. The partial credit guarantee of up to 70% for Producer organisations and 50% for Offtakers is provided to partner banks to reduce the banks risks of lending whilst encouraging financial inclusion among rural businesses.

Benefits
There are several Benefits of PCG including;

  1. De-risk on loans provided to productive alliances, banks will look at such loans with less risk and therefore are more willing to lend to such entities.
  2. Provides the much needed support towards working capital requirements for producer organisations to drive their acquired productive assets in matching grants.
  3. Provides much needed support towards working capital for offtakers that may have a time lag between purchasing product from farmers on cash basis to processing, selling and receiving proceeds from the final consumer.

Process

  1. Offtakers and Producer organisations that are in a productive alliance will obtain a reference letter from AGCOM to their partner bank of choice.
  2. The entity will have to make application form and provide all necessary documentations as prescribed by the partner bank.
  3. The partner bank will process their application in accordance to their policy. Once satisfied and approved will apply for AGCOM PCG to the PCG agent in a prescribed manner.
  4. Depending on the amount of money to be guaranteed, the PCG agent will make own assessment and approve the loan guarantee or if above threshold will extend the application to the AGCOM Investment Committee.
  5. If successful, the PCG agent will write the partner bank of the approval of the loan guarantee and it is expected that the partner bank will credit the approved loan amount to the entity within 48hrs.

Partner Banks
Major commercial banks, and are currently recruiting micro finance institutions.