HortiFresh in collaborating with Fidelity Bank is developing a credit product for smallholder farmers in Takoradi, Keta and Denu to help scale production activities of these farmers.

Currently farmer selection has been completed to begin the process. The aim of this credit product is to improve access to quality inputs and irrigation equipment for these farmers.

An off-taker (aggregator) model is being utilised such that smallholder farmers sign an agreement with the off-taker to ensure a guaranteed market for their produce. The off-taker in turn signs an agreement with Fidelity Bank to ensure that creditworthy smallholder farmers with solid business operations benefit. Additionally, the off-taker provides a guarantee for the funds upon completion of due diligence and prior to disbursement.

So far, seven (7) farmers in Takoradi have successfully gone through the due diligence process to access the credit product. The interest rate for this pilot is 15% p.a.