
Agricultural Credit Officers Masterclass
Your next career step
Empower agricultural value chain growth through smarter lending.
This programme equips you with the knowledge and tools to evaluate agricultural loans, manage credit portfolios, and design financial solutions that meet farmers’ needs. Learn how to assess agricultural enterprises, mitigate risks, and foster financial inclusion across rural economies. Gain practical insights you can apply immediately, benefit from global best practices, and contribute to sustainable development in agricultural finance.
This programme is also available in French upon request.
Next start date
Duration
Language
Format
Type of education
Price
Empower agricultural value chain growth through smarter lending.
This programme equips you with the knowledge and tools to evaluate agricultural loans, manage credit portfolios, and design financial solutions that meet farmers’ needs. Learn how to assess agricultural enterprises, mitigate risks, and foster financial inclusion across rural economies. Gain practical insights you can apply immediately, benefit from global best practices, and contribute to sustainable development in agricultural finance.
This programme is also available in French upon request.

CONTENTS
Whether you are new to agricultural lending or looking to strengthen your expertise, this programme provides you with the skills, tools, and confidence to make informed lending decisions and support sustainable agricultural growth.
REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION
01 June 2026 - 31 August 2026
DETAILS
Customised Training
This programme can also be tailored to your company's specific needs. We would be happy to advise you and provide you with a customised quote upon request.
This masterclass can also be offered in a 3-day format upon request. Please contact us at e-campus@fs.de for the quotation and further information. A minimum number of participants applies.
Special Conditions
- 10% discount for the second and each additional participant per company and seminar date.
- 10% alumni discount
- Early Bird Discount (by April 30, 2026)
Target group
Whether you are new to agricultural lending or looking to strengthen your expertise, this programme provides you with the skills, tools, and confidence to make informed lending decisions and support sustainable agricultural growth.
METHODOLOGY
Delivered online (2-hour session per week), the course combines international expertise with practical, field-tested tools that you can apply immediately in your day-to-day lending activities.
- Flexible learning, adapted to your schedule
- Practical learning, rooted in real-world agriculture
- Expert guidance throughout the course
- Interactive and engaging online experience
The classes take place every Wednesday from 3:00 to 5:00 PM (German time). Attendance is mandatory.
Course Outline
Agricultural Finance Landscape
Participants explore how agricultural value chains function, identify key actors, and understand the specific role of credit officers within rural and agricultural finance systems. The session builds a foundation for understanding why agricultural lending differs from traditional SME or consumer lending.
Understanding Farmers
The session strengthens interviewing skills and equips participants to identify red flags, assess credibility, and build trust while collecting reliable information from agricultural clients.
Farm Economics
Participants learn to build simple farm budgets and calendars that form the basis for sound cash flow and credit analysis.
Market Analysis
The session equips credit officers to assess market risks and evaluate how market access and price fluctuations affect farmers’ repayment capacity.
Cash Flow Analysis
Emphasis is placed on seasonality, timing of inflows and outflows, and repayment capacity assessment. Participants also learn to apply sensitivity and stress testing to evaluate resilience under adverse scenarios.
Farm Visits
Participants learn how to observe production conditions, verify information, use digital and remote verification tools, and document findings systematically. The session reinforces practical risk identification during on-site and virtual visits.
Credit Appraisal
Participants apply the 5 Cs of credit in an agricultural context and practice scoring and decision-making using realistic case scenarios. The module emphasizes consistency, fairness, and risk awareness.
Loan Monitoring
Participants learn to identify early warning signs, diagnose causes of repayment problems, and apply ethical restructuring and recovery approaches while maintaining client relationships.
Product Development
Participants learn how to align loan terms, repayment schedules, and pricing with agricultural production cycles and client needs. The session encourages innovation while maintaining portfolio quality and institutional sustainability.
Credit Cycle Management
Participants identify production, market, climatic, and policy risks and apply mitigation strategies at different credit stages. The session emphasizes proactive documentation and risk-forward loan file management.
Portfolio Management
Key topics include portfolio quality indicators, PAR analysis, concentration risks, and monitoring tools. Participants learn how individual loan decisions translate into portfolio-level performance.
Recap and Integration
Participants review key concepts, clarify outstanding questions, and reflect on how to apply tools and frameworks in their daily work. The session reinforces integration of technical, financial, and risk perspectives in agricultural lending.
Course Outline
Agricultural Finance Landscape
Participants explore how agricultural value chains function, identify key actors, and understand the specific role of credit officers within rural and agricultural finance systems. The session builds a foundation for understanding why agricultural lending differs from traditional SME or consumer lending.
Understanding Farmers
The session strengthens interviewing skills and equips participants to identify red flags, assess credibility, and build trust while collecting reliable information from agricultural clients.
Farm Economics
Participants learn to build simple farm budgets and calendars that form the basis for sound cash flow and credit analysis.
Market Analysis
The session equips credit officers to assess market risks and evaluate how market access and price fluctuations affect farmers’ repayment capacity.
Cash Flow Analysis
Emphasis is placed on seasonality, timing of inflows and outflows, and repayment capacity assessment. Participants also learn to apply sensitivity and stress testing to evaluate resilience under adverse scenarios.
Farm Visits
Participants learn how to observe production conditions, verify information, use digital and remote verification tools, and document findings systematically. The session reinforces practical risk identification during on-site and virtual visits.
Credit Appraisal
Participants apply the 5 Cs of credit in an agricultural context and practice scoring and decision-making using realistic case scenarios. The module emphasizes consistency, fairness, and risk awareness.
Loan Monitoring
Participants learn to identify early warning signs, diagnose causes of repayment problems, and apply ethical restructuring and recovery approaches while maintaining client relationships.
Product Development
Participants learn how to align loan terms, repayment schedules, and pricing with agricultural production cycles and client needs. The session encourages innovation while maintaining portfolio quality and institutional sustainability.
Credit Cycle Management
Participants identify production, market, climatic, and policy risks and apply mitigation strategies at different credit stages. The session emphasizes proactive documentation and risk-forward loan file management.
Portfolio Management
Key topics include portfolio quality indicators, PAR analysis, concentration risks, and monitoring tools. Participants learn how individual loan decisions translate into portfolio-level performance.
Recap and Integration
Participants review key concepts, clarify outstanding questions, and reflect on how to apply tools and frameworks in their daily work. The session reinforces integration of technical, financial, and risk perspectives in agricultural lending.
Course Outline
Agricultural Finance Landscape
Participants explore how agricultural value chains function, identify key actors, and understand the specific role of credit officers within rural and agricultural finance systems. The session builds a foundation for understanding why agricultural lending differs from traditional SME or consumer lending.
Understanding Farmers
The session strengthens interviewing skills and equips participants to identify red flags, assess credibility, and build trust while collecting reliable information from agricultural clients.
Farm Economics
Participants learn to build simple farm budgets and calendars that form the basis for sound cash flow and credit analysis.
Market Analysis
The session equips credit officers to assess market risks and evaluate how market access and price fluctuations affect farmers’ repayment capacity.
Cash Flow Analysis
Emphasis is placed on seasonality, timing of inflows and outflows, and repayment capacity assessment. Participants also learn to apply sensitivity and stress testing to evaluate resilience under adverse scenarios.
Farm Visits
Participants learn how to observe production conditions, verify information, use digital and remote verification tools, and document findings systematically. The session reinforces practical risk identification during on-site and virtual visits.
Credit Appraisal
Participants apply the 5 Cs of credit in an agricultural context and practice scoring and decision-making using realistic case scenarios. The module emphasizes consistency, fairness, and risk awareness.
Loan Monitoring
Participants learn to identify early warning signs, diagnose causes of repayment problems, and apply ethical restructuring and recovery approaches while maintaining client relationships.
Product Development
Participants learn how to align loan terms, repayment schedules, and pricing with agricultural production cycles and client needs. The session encourages innovation while maintaining portfolio quality and institutional sustainability.
Credit Cycle Management
Participants identify production, market, climatic, and policy risks and apply mitigation strategies at different credit stages. The session emphasizes proactive documentation and risk-forward loan file management.
Portfolio Management
Key topics include portfolio quality indicators, PAR analysis, concentration risks, and monitoring tools. Participants learn how individual loan decisions translate into portfolio-level performance.
Recap and Integration
Participants review key concepts, clarify outstanding questions, and reflect on how to apply tools and frameworks in their daily work. The session reinforces integration of technical, financial, and risk perspectives in agricultural lending.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
For this online seminar, participants will need:
A computer with a functional webcam and microphone
A stable internet connection
Access to Zoom (sessions will be conducted via Zoom)
Note: This seminar will start only if the required minimum enrolment is reached. If this condition is not met, the start of the seminar may be postponed.
