Equity Group and the World Food Programme (WFP) signed a deal to provide financial resources and training to small-scale farmers in Africa.
The agreement aims to improve food security and transition communities from relying on food aid to self-sufficiency.
Key components of the agreement include training and facilitating access to loans through Equity Bank subsidiaries – Kenya, DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and a Commercial Representative Office in Ethiopia – and providing technical assistance to processors and entrepreneurs in the agricultural value chain.
The program will also train farmers on climate-resilient practices, regenerative agriculture, and financial management and offer affordable access to data and information to support informed decision-making by farmers.
This initiative builds upon a successful project launched in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2022.
Equity Group emphasizes its commitment to supporting small-scale farmers, a critical group representing 70% of the world’s agricultural holdings.
Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Group Holdings Managing Director noted the Group’s “Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan,” which aims to allocate 30% of Equity’s loan book to farmers by 2030.
The WFP highlights the importance of private-sector partnerships in achieving zero hunger.
“By empowering farmers with the tools and resources they need to thrive, we can create a ripple effect of prosperity that strengthens long-term food security for the whole community,” Cindy McCain, WFP’s Executive Director said.
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