Opportunity International has announced a $2.5 million John Deere Foundation Grant to support extended access to Opportunity International’s financial services for farmers and small businesses in sub-Saharan Africa countries including Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Uganda. Opportunity International expects this grant to help in building a sustainable framework for better food security.
“One of the John Deere Foundation’s goals is to help eliminate hunger through initiatives that help manual farmers move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, resulting in enhanced security for the farmers, increased and sustainable food supplies and measurable economic growth in developing nations,” said John Bustle, vice president, John Deere Foundation. “We are impressed with the progress that Opportunity International has made in increasing access to financial services for African farmers, food processors and retailers. Likewise, we are excited and optimistic about Opportunity’s ongoing efforts to create a sustainable framework for enhanced food security through increased food production, food availability at local markets and family income to purchase food.”
About the John Deere Foundation
John Deere Foundation, the key philanthropic division of Deere & Company, is devoted to finding solutions for world hunger. It focuses on higher education and community betterment in regions with major operating facilities and large employee presence.
About Opportunity International
Opportunity International is a global non-profit microfinance organization which provides access to savings accounts, small business loans, training and insurance products to two million people working their way out of poverty. Clients in over 20 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbors and build a safety net for the future.
Opportunity International’s savings-based microfinance services for entrepreneurs and farmers in developing countries include access to lending, personal savings accounts, small business insurance, and education. These programs combined create a financial safety net for farmers by helping them achieve financial freedom and gain the self-sufficiency needed to expand their businesses, create jobs and support the economic stability of their families and their communities.
Source: http://www.opportunity.org
