The Tunisian Solidarity Bank has allocated $30 million in financial credits for small farmers in the form of seasonal loans. These loans will be granted directly by the bank or through small loan associations to prepare for the major crop season and finance the grain season. This move aims to support small farmers in obtaining the necessary financing to continue their activities.
The bank has announced a series of new measures to boost the pace of granting seasonal loans and support small grain farmers. These measures include automated financing and disbursement of loans for small farmers who have repaid their previous seasonal loans within 15 days of submitting their requests. This streamlined process is expected to facilitate access to financing for small farmers.
In addition to the $30 million allocation, the bank has set aside $5 million to be granted to small farmers through cooperative companies active in the field. This will enable their members to cultivate grains, based on joint agreements between the bank and the cooperatives. This initiative aims to support small farmers through partnerships with cooperative companies.
The bank has also decided to grant seasonal loans to small farmers who have restructured their debts, in accordance with the Central Bank of Tunisia's memorandum No. 161 of 2026. This concerns the restructuring of debts for farmers affected by drought and the Central Bank's circular No. 6 of 2026 on debt restructuring for farmers.
Furthermore, the bank has allocated $4 million to grant loans under the program to support the integrated and sustainable development of the grain system and the emergency food security program. These loans will be granted at a fixed bank interest rate of around 5%, without guarantees and without payment of self-financing, and with flexible conditions.
The loans will be disbursed through supply orders, with 70% of the financing for the purchase of production inputs, while 30% will be disbursed directly to the farmer. The bank has also increased the ceiling of loans granted through small loan associations from $5,000 to $10,000. This increase is expected to provide more financing options for small farmers.
To simplify procedures for obtaining seasonal loans for grain cultivation, the bank has reduced the number of required documents to three essential documents: a loan request, a copy of the national identity card, and a document in the form of a land exploitation certificate. This streamlined process aims to facilitate access to financing for small farmers and support their activities.
Key points
- The Tunisian Solidarity Bank has allocated $30 million for small farmers to finance the grain season.
- The bank has implemented measures to simplify access to financing, including automated financing and disbursement of loans.
- The bank has also increased the ceiling of loans granted through small loan associations from $5,000 to $10,000.
