“Africa now earns an average of 24 per cent of its annual growth from its farmers and their crops. If matched with more electricity and irrigation, smart business and trade policies and a dynamic private agribusiness sector that works side by side with government to link farmers with consumers in an increasingly urbanized Africa, the World Bank estimates that agriculture and agribusiness together could command a US$ 1 trillion presence in Africa’s regional economy by 2030,” cites the report titled Growing Africa: Unlocking the Potential of Agribusiness (January 2013).

 

With this economic potential, the role of financial sector players enabled by an adequate policy regime to unlock more opportunities in the agribusiness value chain cannot be overemphasised.

 

Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) in its quarterly online “My Chat with a Bank CEO” event is focusing on Agribusiness, as one of the drivers of real economy. Transnational Bank CEO, Mr. Sammy Langat will host the Chat on Friday 6th February 2014.

Some of the focus areas will include; Unlocking Kenya’s regional and global potential of agribusiness; The role of financial sector players (banks, capital markets, private equity) in promoting sustainable growth; Opportunities for entrepreneurs, micro and SMEs to add value across the agribusiness supply chain.

 

According to the Central Bank Credit Survey, banks lent approximately Ksh. 82 billion to the sector between January and September 2014.

Source : IN 2 EAST AFRICA