In 2024, USAID’s Agricultural and Rural Development Program (USAID Agro) supported 1200 Ukrainian agricultural producers who were able to receive over UAH 1.14 billion through a number of financial instruments, the program’s press service reported on Facebook.
“With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, it became clear that farmers need financial products offered by the non-banking sector more than ever: commodity lending, leasing (including leaseback and factoring), and agricultural installments,” the statement said.
USAID Agro said that in 2024, farmers received more than UAH 1 billion in commodity loans for the purchase of seeds, fertilizers and plant protection products with deferred payment until harvest from seven partner organizations – Adama Ukraine LLC, Ukravit LLC, Zakhid Agribusiness LLC, Makosh LLC, Agroresurs LLC, Himagro LLC, and Agro Arena LLC. Farmers could pay off the loan in cash or grain. In most cases, no hard collateral was required.
In 2024, agrarians also received UAH 44 million in financing through WEAGRO, a specialized online service from Activitis, a financial company. Without direct interaction with the financial company, farmers received an installment decision within 30 minutes and payment under the contract within two hours.
In addition, USAID Agro supported the Digital Leasing in Three Clicks in Three Days platform from ESKA Capital, which financed farmers for almost UAH 100 million as part of a joint project.
“The uniqueness of this initiative is the leasing of equipment for up to 15 years, leaseback, financing for farmers bordering the combat zone; as well as the absence of bureaucratic obstacles and the ability to draw up contracts online,” the program reminded.
USAID Agro promised to support these projects in 2025 and prepare two more for launch. These are the development of secondary circulation of commodity loans, as well as financing of agricultural producers through agricultural notes.
