Ten years ago, Olena Denysiuk, along with her husband, returned from Kyiv, where she had planned to work as an architect, to her native village of Andriyevychi in the Zhytomyr region. Together, they decided to try their hand at agriculture. Initially, they were engaged in growing and selling hay, but later switched to other crops. Currently, the farm “Velyka Rodyna i K” cultivates about 100 hectares, growing soybeans, oats, barley, corn, and mustard. This year, in spring, Olena’s farm needed diesel fuel for the sowing campaign.
However, their own resources were not sufficient for this, so she decided to take advantage of the WEAGRO online service, which is developed by the financial company Activitis with support from the USAID AGRO Program. Through the online service, the farmer was able to quickly arrange the purchase of diesel fuel worth 240,000 UAH with installment payments, without collateral and excessive documentation.
WEAGRO’s agricultural installment plan became Olena’s answer to the question of where to get money without a bank loan. The farmer received such necessary and timely support in quite difficult times.
“I accidentally came across this online service when I was looking for additional financing for sowing. We were sure that our partner bank would give us a loan, as we had been cooperating for 6 years before, but this didn’t happen and we were refused because the bank changed its manager. Fortunately, I found WEAGRO in time and was able to arrange a diesel fuel supply agreement in one day,” Olena Denysiuk shared.
The collaboration between the financial company Activitis and the USAID AGRO Project has opened new opportunities for attracting financing in agriculture, helping to overcome the shortage of working capital. WEAGRO allows farmers to arrange a 6-month installment plan without collateral for the purchase of seeds, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, and other necessary resources. The maximum installment amount can reach 2 million hryvnias, and the decision on the application is made within 30 minutes. Suppliers also receive their payments quickly and safely, allowing them to plan their expenses and income more effectively.
Supporting small farmers, especially women farmers, is critically important for the future of agriculture in Ukraine. Access to financing through the WEAGRO online installment service allows them to develop their business and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
In total, 107 farmers have gained access to financing through the online service created with the support of the USAID AGRO Program.
