Improving Financial Access Among Smallholder Farmers to Boost Food Self-Sufficiency

Addis Ababa, December 24, 2025— Commercial Bank of Ethiopia to boost the country's food sovereignty through a new agricultural financial service that will provide farmers with greater access to credit and banking solutions, according to CBE Retail Banking Vice President Dessalegn Alemu.

According to him, the new loan services were introduced specifically for smallholder farmers is a crucial step in providing accessible and sustainable credit solutions for the agricultural sector.

This initiative is part of the broader Finance Roadmap, which aims to boost financial accessibility for other banks and financial institutions in supporting smallholder farmers and pastoralists.

 

 

This roadmap has been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Bank of Ethiopia, the Ministry of Finance, and other key stakeholders.

Access to financial resources plays a critical role in improving agricultural production and productivity.

 The new loans will enable farmers to acquire essential inputs such as fertilizers, certified seeds, pesticides, and machinery. By facilitating this financial access, CBE aims to enhance the productivity of millions of Ethiopian farmers across the country.

The loan services cover a wide range of agricultural activities, including crop production, animal husbandry, milk and dairy production, as well as the cultivation of vegetables, fruits, and flowers.

With this expanded financial access, smallholder farmers will now have the opportunity to increase their production levels significantly, addressing one of the historical challenges they have faced in comparison to investors in large-scale farming.

The launch of these loan services marks a transformative moment for smallholder farmers, as they can now benefit from the same financial opportunities that were previously limited to larger agricultural enterprises.

According to him, such access is expected to not only boost individual farmers' productivity but also contribute to national production goals.

Through initiatives like these, the government is committed to achieving food sovereignty by increasing agricultural productivity.

With these enhanced financial products and access, the CBE is firmly positioning itself as a catalyst for agricultural development in Ethiopia. This initiative not only addresses the financial needs of smallholder farmers but also fortifies the foundation of the rural economy, ensuring a more food-secure future for the country.