GIRSAL’s Technical Assistance and Advisory Services (TAS) support financial institutions in enhancing their knowledge and understanding of agriculture and agribusiness financing. It also strengthens their capacity to assess, structure and manage agribusiness loans. GIRSAL’s TAS is delivered through Capacity Building, Information Resources, Advisory and Direct Support.
This is a 2-module course aimed at building financial institutions’ agriculture and agribusiness lending knowledge, and strengthening their capacity to assess, structure and manage loans to agribusinesses.
The two modules cover Ghana’s agribusiness environment, introduces participants to crop, poultry and livestock value chains, agricultural loan appraisal techniques, and agricultural loans portfolio management. The two-week training course is tailored to Mid- level staff of financial institutions targeting agriculture desk officers, relationship managers, credit risk officers and credit analysts.
The training combines classroom learning, case studies, guest lecture sessions and practical field trips. The course is jointly developed and rolled out in collaboration with the National Banking College with funding support from Development Bank Ghana.
Agriculture is not only about farming. Revealing the ancillary businesses related to farming is one way to catch the interest of and reduce the risk-aversion of bankers.
I have been in the credit department for 12 years. Most of the time, we in the credit department say that agribusiness is very risky. The training showed us that Agric is not risky if you know it well
Bank Staff Trained
Institutions Trained
Cohorts Completed
This specialized training module is tailored for Board Members and Senior Management personnel within financial institutions, with a primary focus on informing and educating them about the opportunities and challenges prevalent in the agricultural sector. As pivotal decision-makers, this training aims to enhance their capacity to recognize and understand risk mitigation tools and support services pertinent to agricultural finance. Additionally, it endeavours to complement the training provided to mid-level staff, thereby addressing and bridging the existing knowledge gap within financial institutions concerning agriculture and agribusiness financing.
Board Members Trained
Senior Executives Trained
Institutions Trained
The Agribusiness Study Tours, a collaborative initiative by GIRSAL and Development Bank Ghana (DBG), aim to deepen financial institutions’ understanding of agriculture and agribusiness while showcasing the transformative potential of commercial farming. Through these tours, financial institutions and agribusinesses gain firsthand exposure to global best practices in agribusiness operations, fostering increased investment in the sector. By providing practical insights into large-scale agribusiness models, the initiative empowers participants to apply these learnings to drive growth and innovation in Ghana’s agricultural landscape.
Since its launch in 2022, GIRSAL has organized six successful study tours to the VegPro Group in Kenya, engaging 101 participants from 12 financial institutions, 25 agribusinesses, and 8 other institutions. These tours have equipped participants with invaluable knowledge and actionable strategies to enhance their operations and support the agribusiness sector.
The agribusiness study tours initiative is a component of GIRSAL’s broader Technical Assistance and Advisory Service, designed to enhance financial institutions’ understanding of agriculture and agribusiness. The primary objectives are to foster an awareness of the sector’s potential exposing financial institutions to firsthand best practices in agribusiness operations and encourage more lending.
Indeed, the tour was very useful in providing real context as to how impactful large-scale agriculture can be on our economy. My resolve is to contribute within my power to support at least one business to get to the level I witnessed
As a quality assurance officer, it's amazing to see how standards serve as basic principles in all food factories or farms, regardless of the commodities involved, to meet clients' specifications
The learning experience has not only enriched my knowledge and skills but has also broadened my perspective on agribusiness
Bank Staff Trained
Institutions Trained
Cohorts Completed
