Banking on Africa

Just nine months after leaving a low-paying job in politics, Patrick is operating a thriving sugarcane farm. After years of working a job that left Patrick and his wife in a constant struggle to make ends meet, they finally acted on their dream to expand their small sugarcane plot. Motivated by the need to make repairs to their family home which was literally crumbling around them, the couple took a leap of faith and met with an Opportunity Uganda loan officer.

Because of your support, Opportunity Uganda was able to launch the MEOS™ data capture system, an automated/mobile data solution for collecting, analyzing and processing critical client data. Agriculture loan officers are helping farmers like Patrick register for bank accounts and loans without leaving their fields. They are also using the technology to GPS map the farms and capture biometrics and profiling information that provide specific details about the farm plot and the family’s needs.

Today, Patrick can access capital when he needs it most, such as during planting season when he needs to purchase inputs like seeds, pesticides and mulch. He gains the flexibility to make repayments during harvest times when money is more liquid. “The cycle of income growth and watching my plot become a plantation has been fantastic,” he says. Patrick was recently voted the president of the Kaliro Sugarcane Growers Association—a group of nearly 1,000 farmers who sell their crops to the local sugarcane factory.

With the help of Opportunity, he has doubled his plantation to 45 acres and improved the quality of his crops. As he continues to grow his business, he is making repairs to his home and plans to construct a larger one. Most importantly, Patrick is confident he will improve his family’s future by ensuring his seven children can go to school.