Nicaragua: Looking for Credit for Small Producers

Initially the government intended for private banks to finance, via the program, all micro producers, but in the face of the banks mistrust of the system of legal guarantees, only producers of basic grains have been prioritised.

According to an article in Elnuevodiario.com.ni "... the amount required for the small producer is not ‘sky high’. The investment per acre of beans is about $320, which gives an average yield of 12 quintals, compared to corn which requires $470. "

Source: elnuevodiario.com.ni

More on this topic

CABEI Loans for Cacao and Coffee

March 2010

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) has developed a program to assist small coffee and cacao growers.

Called CAMBio (Central American Markets for Biodiversity), the project is expected to assist over 2.000 growers of the region.

“So far, CAMBio has lent $1.9 million to 2.310 small coffee and organic cacao growers in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras, benefiting some 11.550 people”, reported newspaper La Tribuna.

Honduras: $10 Million for Agricultural Projects

September 2010

Provided by the International Agricultural Development (IADF), the funds are earmarked for small farmers from the country’s south.

Jacobo Regalado, Agriculture Ministry, explained that the money is aimed to assist small farmers from Choluteca, Valle and El Paraíso, who may also receive the resources as micro-loans.

Switzerland Cooperates With C.A. Growers

August 2009

The $7 million project looks to train and provide equipment to Central American bean and corn growers.

María Antonia Zelaya is a spokesperson for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Central America. She informed that "the regional project (comprising from Panama to Belize), is divided into phases, the first one being training.

Costa Rica: Reforms to SME Financing Mechanism

August 2010

Reforms are planned to the "Sistema de Banca para Desarrollo" (SBD) "banking toll fee" arrangement with the introduction of a fixed payment.

In addition, the concept of differentiated regulation will be introduced and the role of Costa Rica's national learning institute (INA in Spanish) in carrying out business training will be clarified.