Agribank envisions further growth in 2021

Agribank envisions further growth in 2021 ELLANIE SMIT



WINDHOEK

Agribank has ensured stakeholders that it will continue to deliver on its mandate by improving and expanding on its service delivery and strengthening its product offering.

In a New Year’s message, acting CEO Muhindua Kaura said to do this, the bank will tirelessly continue to engage with its stakeholders to understand their needs.

He added that achievements thus far were only possible through invaluable support from stakeholders.

“I feel immensely proud of the manner in which our employees have come together in facing challenges which include market conditions, the invisible coronavirus pandemic, the outbreak of locusts as well as Foot-and-Mouth Disease.”

Attitude of servitude

Kaura further assured that their core values have become the mantra of the way things at Agribank are done and said it embodies their attitude of servitude.

“As we propel forward in 2021, we all will play a part in making the bank more resilient.”

He said the wish for 2021 is for Agribank to continue to grow from strength to strength and contribute towards government’s expressed wish for food security as espoused in the Harambe Prosperity Plan and Vision 2030.

Wallie Roux, an independent agricultural expert, said Agribank’s end purpose should be to offer food security.

With the drought that has not completely been broken yet, the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainty of when it will rain, 2021 will be a very uncertain year, he said.

Roux added that Agribank needs to give producers enough space to they can increase their production without financial burdens.

There, therefore, needs to be bridging facility for a certain period, he said.

Roux further urged Agribank to sharpen their mentorship programmes and make it compulsory for all clients who enter into a loan with the bank.

That way, monitoring will also be much easier, he said.

Roux added that engagement with producers should be done at grassroot level. “The bank must know what is going on the ground and adjust accordingly to accommodate farmers.”