Agricultural Development & Finance

FS TURCASIA pursues a holistic approach to the provision of advisory services for agricultural development and finance to ensure sustainable agricultural development in Türkiye. This approach combines access to finance for individuals and enterprises involved in agriculture and agriculture-related activities, access to technical consultancy for all sizes of farms and agribusinesses, access to market through the development of innovative cost-efficient delivery channels, and access to know-how via capacity-building at both agricultural enterprises and financial institutions.

Frankfurt School’s trilogy to have better agribusiness and food economics starts with “Better Finance” through financial institutions, continues with “Better Farming” for increased efficiency, productivity, and sustainability, and lasts with “Better Marketing” meaning effective linkages and players between farmers and end-buyers. In line with this holistic standpoint, we advise the financial sector and agribusinesses to develop climate-smart technologies and sustainable financing models to promote green agricultural practices throughout the value chain.

FS TURCASIA has implemented pioneer projects in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Türkiye until today. Our extensive experience covers the design and implementation of agricultural, livestock, and agri-food data collection assignments, along with data management infrastructure development; preparation of sectoral action plans, roadmaps, and policy suggestion reports based on significant analysis of field data collection, surveys, interviews, and focus groups.

Our flagship product is the Agricultural Loan Evaluation System (ALES), which aims to strengthen the agricultural lending capacity of banks and establish the necessary link between agricultural enterprises and financial institutions via the collection and analysis of solid field data on agricultural & livestock indicators and climatic parameters.

Donor: AFD & EU ENPARD

Beneficiary: Semi-commercial farms and cooperatives in Georgia

Year: May 2018 – November 2023

The main objective of FinExCoop Georgia is to promote the sustainable emergence of a new generation of small and medium-scale family farm entrepreneurs able to be competitive thanks to:

• Improved access to credit and other financial services, including agri-insurance (Fin like Finance).
• Ensuring higher productivity is linked to better technical knowledge and appropriate use of inputs, technology, and equipment (Ex like Extension).
• Their participation in market-oriented cooperatives or other entities fosters their coordination to improve access to inputs and equipment, consolidate their output, and increase their value through better storage, processing, and marketing (Coop like Cooperatives).

FinExCoop has provided a framework for solid development of value-chains through strategic research and agribusiness forums, international conferences and study visits dedicated to potato, apple and livestock (big and small ruminants) sectors.

Agricultural Data Collection (ADMS) and Agricultural Evaluation System (TARDES) Development and Update

Donor: Credit Bureau of Türkiye (KKB)

Beneficiary: KKB (Turkish Credit Bureau)

Year: May 2017 – October 2021

The project aimed to develop a comprehensive agricultural data management tool (ADMS) and agricultural loan evaluation system (TARDES), for measuring agrarian risks of the agricultural banks. These unique products also measured the financials of micro, small and medium-sized producers and agricultural businesses in Türkiye. The Credit Bureau of Türkiye offered the TARDES to use the whole Turkish financial services sector, facilitating the agricultural data stored by the ADMS.

Supporting Sustainable Cotton Value Chains in Türkiye Supporting BCI Standards Through Technical Advisory Phase I & II

Donor: EBRD

Beneficiary: Good Cotton Practices Association (IPUD)

Year: August 2022 – December 2023

The objective of this Project is to increase the efficiency of cotton farming in Türkiye by developing and introducing best practices and a sustainable cotton standards system meeting the requirements of BCI-compliant cotton. Thus, overall the project aims to improve the environmental, economic and social impact of cotton production in Türkiye.

To support the activities, the project team and IPUD introduce best practices and a sustainable cotton standards system, in western and south-eastern Türkiye, by providing technical expertise, training, and skills sharing. The work is designed to develop the capacities of Implementing Partners (IPs), field facilitators (FFs), farmers, and ginners to improve the adoption of BCI standards and the efficiency of cotton farming in Türkiye.

Donor: EBRD

Beneficiary: Bunge Oil Production Company

Year: February 2023 – November 2023

The objectives of the project are:

• Analysis of climate change impact (current and expected) on olive production in relevant regions.
• Assessment of the environmental footprint of current production practices of olive production in relevant regions.
• Identification of climate-smart farming practices to improve climate resilience and reduce GHG emission from olive farming.
• Support the beneficiary in developing and implementing an MRV system to monitor the adoption of practices in the supply chain and impact on climate resilience and GHG emissions.

Azerbaijan Agricultural Finance Facility (AzAFF) Technical Cooperation Programme

Donor: EBRD

Beneficiary: Partner banks, Azerbaijani farmers

Year: September 2015 – December 2020

The overall objective of the facility was to foster the economic development of the agriculture sector and to support agricultural & rural development strategies in Azerbaijan.

This comprehensive programme offered an effective response to address the multi-dimensional nature of agricultural finance, including but not limited to access to finance by increasing credit availability to Azerbaijani farmers especially small & medium-sized farmers and rural MSMEs.

The programme accomplished its aims through dedicated credit lines of up to USD 40 million, removing supply constraints to credit via the First Loss Risk Cover, facilitating the process of adjusting demand and supply, and enhancing the financial, managerial, and production capabilities of end beneficiaries (enterprises and individuals involved in agricultural and agriculture-related activities in Azerbaijan). As a result, the project stimulated their demand for financial products and services while increasing their productivity and efficiency.