In a continued effort to equip financial institutions with the expertise required to understand the agricultural sector and confidently lend to agribusinesses, GIRSAL has launched three new cohorts of its Agriculture and Agribusiness Lending Course for 2025.
In 2024, GIRSAL trained over 173 staff from 26 financial institutions through the program, surpassing the annual target of 120 participants across three cohorts. This achievement represents a remarkable 44% increase over the original target, signifying the growing interest in the training program.
Delivered under GIRSAL’s Technical Assistance and Advisory Services, and in partnership with Development Bank Ghana (DBG) and the National Banking College (NBC), the course addresses the persistent knowledge gaps and misconceptions in agricultural financing. It aims to enhance the practical skills of participants in assessing, structuring, and managing agricultural loan applications, forming a key part of GIRSAL’s broader mission to mitigate risk in agricultural finance and drive sustainable growth in the sector.
Since the launch of the Agriculture and Agribusiness Lending Course in 2020, the program has made a significant impact on building the capacity of financial institutions. With DBG as a co-funding partner and NBC as the training partner, the course continues to transform how banks and financial institutions approach agricultural lending.
The program is structured into two comprehensive modules designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools required for the effective appraisal and management of agricultural facilities.
Module One introduces participants to the agricultural and agribusiness sector in Ghana, with sessions facilitated by industry experts and agribusiness professionals. Topics include the agriculture and agribusiness environment, crops, livestock, and poultry value chains, and guest lectures offering practical insights.
Module Two focuses on agribusiness appraisal techniques, providing hands-on training in agricultural loan evaluation, risk identification, and mitigation strategies. Participants are guided to critically assess loan applications and make informed lending decisions that support sustainable agribusiness development. The training is capped with a field visit to provide participants with practical experience.
The 2025 training program kicked off with the first cohort, held from February 10–14 at the National Banking College, hosting 70 participants from 23 financial institutions.
At the opening, Dr. Randolph Nsor-Ambala, CEO-designate of DBG, delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of agriculture in Ghana’s economy and the need to address skills gaps in financing the sector.
Dr. Randolph Nsor-Ambala, CEO-designate of DBG
“DBG’s long-term focus is to strengthen the agricultural value chain, but we recognize that access to credit alone is not enough. Evidence shows a critical gap not only in financing but also in understanding the value chain, identifying viable opportunities, and properly evaluating agribusiness proposals,” Dr. Nsor-Ambala stated.
“Our collaboration with GIRSAL enables us to equip our Participating Financial Institutions with the capacity to effectively assess and support agribusinesses. In doing so, we can scale up investments in the sector in a deliberate and impactful way,” he added.
Participants who have completed the program over the years consistently share positive feedback on how it has transformed the way they approach agricultural lending. Many note that the comprehensive curriculum has deepened their understanding of agribusiness financing and enhanced their ability to evaluate and monitor agribusiness operations more effectively.
A participant described the program as both insightful and engaging:
“The trainers were highly knowledgeable and experienced in the field of agribusiness financing. They shared practical examples and case studies that helped me understand the concepts better. The interactive nature of the training sessions allowed for meaningful discussions and exchange of ideas amongst us participants.”
Another participant highlighted the program’s depth and usefulness:
“I am impressed with the comprehensive nature of the training. It covered various aspects of agribusiness financing, and the materials provided will serve as valuable resources for future reference.”
By equipping financial institution staff with specialized knowledge and practical skills, GIRSAL and DBG are directly addressing key barriers to agricultural lending. The continued success and growing interest in the program underscore its value in shaping a more resilient and responsive financial sector for agribusiness in Ghana.