Degas partners with Kiva to expand access to finance for smallholder farmers in Ghana

Degas Ghana Ltd., a social impact company transforming smallholder agriculture through inclusive finance and data-driven innovation, is proud to announce a new partnership with Kiva, a global nonprofit focused on financial access. The collaboration will enable the financing of smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana, promoting food security, educational opportunity, and economic growth across rural communities.

The initiative leverages Kiva’s crowdfunding platform to raise up to $600,000 in zero-interest loans, which will be distributed through Degas to provide smallholder farmers with hybrid seeds, fertilizer, and other critical inputs. In addition to this initial fund, Degas will post individual farmer profiles on Kiva’s platform, allowing supporters from around the world to directly fund specific farmers starting from as little as $25.

“We are thrilled to partner with Kiva to unlock new financing channels for smallholder farmers who are often excluded from traditional credit systems,” said Masashi Motohashi, CFO at Degas. “This model allows us to expand our reach and scale our impact while strengthening the resilience of farming communities.”

This season marks Degas’ first campaign on Kiva, with plans to expand the collaboration in future cycles. The first cohort for this season comprises five farmers from the Sissala West district, who, like many in the region, are seeking to expand their farms and secure a better future for their families. These farmers will use the funds to purchase inputs that will help boost yields and income, resources that, in many cases, will support their children’s education.

A Proven Model for Farmer Finance

Degas operates a vertically integrated Farmer Financing model, providing inputs, agronomic support, and market access in exchange for repayment in agricultural outputs. This model allows anyone on Earth to deploy finance as an investment — not a donation — earning a return while maximising impact. By collecting and analyzing detailed data from farmers and farms, Degas can increase the incomes of smallholder farmers with maximum transparency and accountability. This structure reduces barriers to productivity and improves financial stability among underserved rural populations. Over the past few seasons, Degas’ approach has helped hundreds of farmers double or even triple their yields, resulting in better livelihoods and greater food security.

“Through our partnership with Kiva, we can bring more visibility and funding to farmers who are already working hard to build dignified, sustainable lives,” added Masashi

About Kiva

Founded in 2005, Kiva is a global nonprofit working to expand financial access around the world to help underserved communities thrive. Kiva brings communities together through Kiva.org, where individuals are invited to lend as little as $25 to borrowers worldwide. Kiva's impact is enabled through a network of trusted Lending Partners who provide the local expertise that ensures Kiva funding best meets the needs of each community. And unlike a donation, Kiva loans are repaid, so lenders can reinvest again and again, fueling an ongoing cycle of opportunity and change. To date, the organization has mobilized over $2.3 billion in loans to more than 5.7 million borrowers in 75+ countries.

Unlike traditional finance models, Kiva loans are interest-free and rely on a network of trusted field partners and entrepreneurs to identify and support borrowers. Once farmers repay their loans, funds are returned to lenders, who can then re-invest in new opportunities.

A Call for Collective Action

Degas also plans to involve its own employees in the campaign by encouraging internal investment through the Kiva platform. “We believe that change starts from within. By engaging our own team members as investors, we are reinforcing our collective commitment to impact and inclusion,” said Masashi. 

Degas invites anyone interested in supporting farmers in Ghana to visit www.kiva.org/degas and make a microloan. Each contribution helps unlock the full potential of smallholder agriculture, one acre, one harvest, and one family at a time.