Advans Ghana Savings and Loans will from next year broaden its range of products and delivery channels for agricultural clients in rural areas towards increasing their financial inclusion.

A statement issued by the company to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, said through a similar innovative approach, implemented by its Cote d’Ivoire counterpart for cocoa farmers, the Advans Group won the 2018 European Microfinance Award themed: “Financial Inclusion through Technology”.

“From 2016, Advans Ghana has implemented an innovative Agri-lending strategy, gathering key stakeholders (farmers associations, input dealers, etc.) of different Agri-value chains to offer input loans to small holder farmers at competitively lower rates, and other financial services like,” it said.

“Advans has also partnered with institutions like AGRA which supports with technical assistance and trainings. Between 2017 and 2109, Advans Ghana has given input loans to 8,313 beneficiary farmers in the rice, cocoa and cashew value chains to enable them to grow more yield and expand their business”.

In furtherance of its commitment it actively participated in the 35th National Farmer’s Day celebration themed: “Enhancing Small Scale Agriculture Towards Agribusiness Development”.

“During the durbar, a team from Advans Ghana Savings and Loans led by the Head of Partnerships Development, Mr. Alhassan Salley, presented the National Best Cocoa Farmer with a cheque of ¢3,500 which is in partial fulfilment of the promise made, when the team presented Advans Ghana’s sponsorship package cheque of ¢20,000, on the 27th November, 2019, to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in support of this year’s,” it said.

“The prize money was presented to Mr. Ernest Sarkodie, designated as the National Best Cocoa Farmer from Sankore in the Ahafo Region to congratulate him for a good job done and help him purchase inputs for his cocoa farm to produce more yield”.

A complementary donation, it said, would be awarded to 10 small holder farmers benefiting from the input loans scheme of the company.

The Company also participated in the four-day exhibition, proceeding the durbar at the Jubilee Park, Ho, during which it offered financial education to the patrons of its booth, opened accounts and gave out gifts to farmers and other visitors.

Advans Ghana Savings and Loans is a subsidiary of the Advans Group head-quartered in Paris with presence in nine countries in Africa and Asia and serving more than one million clients.

In Ghana, it operates in 20 branches across eight regions with the head office located in Accra-Newtown. Advans Ghana’s mission is to provide client centric financial services to small businesses and under-served populations in a sustainable and responsible manner.