The Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID) has organised a webinar entitled ‘Financing small and medium-sized farmers and producers’, which was widely praised for its pioneering experience in financing programmes and activities for small and medium-sized farmers and producers across a number of Arab countries
More than 1,000 participants participated in the virtual webinar, the main objective of which was to learn more about efforts aimed at achieving the sustainable development goals of eradicating hunger, achieving food security and promoting sustainable and smart agriculture.
The webinar served as a strategic platform to discuss financial resources for small and medium-sized farmers, animal breeders, fishermen and those working in the agro-processing industry. AAAID explained that the creation of a revolving loan fund or a contribution to programmes implemented by the Arab Authority is aimed at increasing production and expanding and developing the agricultural sector in Arab countries.
During the event, the participants welcomed the AAAID initiative to set up a revolving loan fund to finance small and medium-sized farmers and producers, confirming their willingness to contribute and inviting Arab, regional and international financial institutions to support the fund.
Participants also highlighted the importance of the Arab Authority and the experience of the other parties in participating in the webinar, exploring the potential to benefit from the expansion and spread of the fund across all Arab countries. Experience comes as an integrated model that seeks to help reduce the risks of financing small farmers and to achieve the desired objectives of increasing production and productivity.
The webinar resulted in a package of important recommendations, such as the need to provide and sustain support to small farmers and producers; the creation of an appropriate environment by providing the necessary infrastructure; strengthening the role of the relevant institutions and focusing on the development and development of technical, financial and administrative capacities for small farmers;
Participants called on the Arab governments to draft and implement legislation and policies to provide an appropriate environment for the private sector to actively participate in the financing of small farmers. They also urged firms to join the fund.
Mohammed Al Mazrooei, president, AAAID, said, “The Arab Authority has accomplished a lot to achieve the goals for which it was created. We confirm its continuous endeavours to contribute to enhancing Arab food security through its agricultural investments in various sectors and its development programs aimed to the benefit of small and medium farmers and producers who constitute the largest segment in the Arab countries by about 80%.”
