AFC Sets 65% Loan Disbursement Target to Empower Smallholder Farmers at FINAS2025

The Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) has announced a bold move to allocate 65 percent of its loan disbursements to smallholder farmers, a strategic decision unveiled during the FINAS2025 conference held in Nairobi. Themed Empowering the Backbone of African Agriculture, the forum brought together key stakeholders in agricultural financing to explore solutions that promote inclusive growth and food security.

Speaking at the event,AFC Managing Director George Kubai and AFC Chief Strategy Business Development and Planning Tom Akeno both emphasized the critical role smallholder farmers play in Kenya’s agricultural value chain.

They noted that despite contributing up to 75 percent of the country’s food production, small-scale farmers often face limited access to credit and financial services barriers AFC now seeks to dismantle.

“Our aim is to ensure that the majority who work the land have the financial support needed to grow, innovate, and sustain their livelihoods,” said Akeno. “This 65 percent disbursement target reflects AFC’s commitment to inclusive development.”

AFC Managing Director George Kubai

Kubai added that AFC’s revamped approach will include more accessible loan products, capacity building, and collaboration with agribusiness partners to strengthen farmer resilience and productivity. The initiative aligns with the government’s agricultural transformation agenda and responds to the increasing need for climate-smart financing solutions.

Stakeholders at FINAS2025, including representatives from the public sector, development agencies, and farmer organizations, lauded AFC’s pledge as timely and transformative. They noted it would particularly benefit women and youth in agriculture, who often face the greatest barriers to finance.

With the renewed focus, AFC positions itself as a leading force in inclusive agricultural financing, aiming to uplift smallholder farmers and drive sustainable growth across Kenya’s rural economy. The 65 percent loan allocation marks a milestone in efforts to make finance work for the people at the heart of food production.

By Sharon Atieno