Bank of the Philippine Islands’ (BPI) financial inclusion and microfinance arm BanKo has teamed up with agri-tech company Agrilever to launch the Agri NegosyoKo Loan Program.
In a media briefing, BPI said this initiative aims to help farmers strengthen their agricultural practices and improve their livelihoods.
“The Philippines is an agricultural country, and to sustain and expand farming opportunities, we must support our farmers with programs that help them grow their businesses,” said BanKo President Rod Mabiasen Jr.
He noted that “the Agri NegosyoKo Loan Program introduces a comprehensive approach that underscores productivity, efficiency, and the economic well-being of farmers through strategic partnerships with cooperatives and aggregators, like Agrilever.”
Aside from customized loans, the Agri NegosyoKo Loan Program offers farmers a comprehensive suite of benefits, including financial education, protection and security, personal engagement and community involvement, a streamlined application process, and incentives for responsible behavior.
providing affordable financial solutions.
“The Agri NegosyoKo Loan Program is the fruit of our collaboration with cooperatives and aggregators. Coupled with their technological expertise, we will empower farmers and aggregators with opportunities for easier access to financing, technologies to help yield higher crops, and manage production with cost-efficiency,” said BanKo Chairman Jojo Ocampo.
He added that “going beyond financial aid, we also provide a platform for knowledge, innovation, and sustainable growth. We see farmers not as our clients, but as vital partners.”
According to Agrilever, most of their farmers do not have bank accounts or access to affordable financing. Thus, securing financial resources and customized financing solutions is essential for ensuring the financial stability of both farmers and their supply chain partners.
With the Agri NegosyoKo Loan Program, farmers can access loans ranging from P50,000 to P300,000.
As a partner, Agrilever provides its farmers with Digital Agronomy Services, Market Access, Flexible Financing, Crop Insurance, and Weather Systems, aiming to promote sustainability and social equity in the agricultural sector.
Through an app provided by Agrilever, farmers will be guided on when to plant, harvest, apply pesticides, and fertilizers.
The national average yield is 4.15 tons per hectare of rice. With Agrilever’s guidance, this yield could substantially increase to as much as seven tons per hectare.
By positively impacting small-plot farmers, their communities, and agribusinesses, Agrilever and BanKo can foster resilience in rural areas, ensuring a more productive future for the people involved.
In 2023, Banko released P14.96 billion of business loans to over 200,000 borrowing clients.
BanKo also opened 26 new branch-lite units (BLU) in different locations across the country, bringing the total number of branches and BLUs to 350.
The bank operates in 77 out of 82 provinces, with branches in 125 cities, serving as the sole representative of BPI in 152 of these areas.