By: Fred Yaw Sarpong
sarpong007@gmail.com
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has stated that agriculture remains one of the economic sectors which have been neglected as a result of funding by banks.
Central bank said despite the lucrative aspect of the sector and what it brings to the economy, funding to the sector is not encouraging at all.
“For all the nice stories told about the Agriculture sector and its potential for poverty alleviation it remains the most credit neglected and unfunded sector of the economy,” Dr. Abdul-Nashiru Issahaku, the Governor of the bank has pointed out.
The Governor was of the view that, it’s time for financial institutions such as the banks to start funding agriculture in the country.
“Despite perceived risk associated with the agriculture sector due its unfavorable review, it is an area highly dear to my heart and I will welcome industry players to consider this promising sector,” he appealed.
According to him, his outfit has started intensifying commercial banks in the country to consider agriculture sector as a potential sector to engage.
He mentioned that it will good idea if the commercial banks in Ghana will set as some funds annually to boost agriculture in Ghana.
He stated that because farmers do not get funds to farm, food stuffs have been expensive and that affect inflation as well. “If the agriculture sector is financed, it will greatly improved inflation because food inflation is a major component in the inflation basket,” he added.
“One of the biggest mandates of the BoG is stabilizing prices, which means lowering inflation. We note that, that has been the contribution of food inflation and I think it’s important that we consider support to the agric sector as very significant. Bank of Ghana in the past has implemented policies that continue to make available more credit to the agriculture sector,” he stated.
He regrets the point where most financial institutions are of the view that the Agriculture sector is a high risk area and for that matter they do not want to venture into such area.
sarpong007@gmail.com
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has stated that agriculture remains one of the economic sectors which have been neglected as a result of funding by banks.
Central bank said despite the lucrative aspect of the sector and what it brings to the economy, funding to the sector is not encouraging at all.
“For all the nice stories told about the Agriculture sector and its potential for poverty alleviation it remains the most credit neglected and unfunded sector of the economy,” Dr. Abdul-Nashiru Issahaku, the Governor of the bank has pointed out.
The Governor was of the view that, it’s time for financial institutions such as the banks to start funding agriculture in the country.
“Despite perceived risk associated with the agriculture sector due its unfavorable review, it is an area highly dear to my heart and I will welcome industry players to consider this promising sector,” he appealed.
According to him, his outfit has started intensifying commercial banks in the country to consider agriculture sector as a potential sector to engage.
He mentioned that it will good idea if the commercial banks in Ghana will set as some funds annually to boost agriculture in Ghana.
He stated that because farmers do not get funds to farm, food stuffs have been expensive and that affect inflation as well. “If the agriculture sector is financed, it will greatly improved inflation because food inflation is a major component in the inflation basket,” he added.
“One of the biggest mandates of the BoG is stabilizing prices, which means lowering inflation. We note that, that has been the contribution of food inflation and I think it’s important that we consider support to the agric sector as very significant. Bank of Ghana in the past has implemented policies that continue to make available more credit to the agriculture sector,” he stated.
He regrets the point where most financial institutions are of the view that the Agriculture sector is a high risk area and for that matter they do not want to venture into such area.
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