This report describes the present state of agricultural value chain finance in Indonesia and suggests policies that could help expand its availability where formal financial services have been unable to meet value chain actors’ needs. We first consider the features of a policy environment needed for agricultural value chain finance to flourish. Key points related to the policy environment are: Allow interest rates for loans from the formal sector to be priced by the market; Support secure, inclusive payment systems and transaction frameworks; Develop a legal framework that supports both the use of movable collateral in loans and a warehouse receipts system; Develop a legal and/or regulatory framework that supports contract farming among smallholders; And allow for a more open, technology-driven financial architecture that facilitates market entry among nontraditional financial service providers.

Smallholder farmers in developing countries face substantial constraints that limit their ability to reach their production potential. Two constraints—risk exposure and limited access to liquidity—pose particular challenges. Smallholders face a wide variety of risks that constrain both the choices they can make and their willingness to make investments. Limited availability of affordable credit, borrowing and saving products poorly aligned with the needs of the agriculture sector, and prohibitive borrowing eligibility requirements all impede farmers’ access to the liquidity necessary for investing in new, more profitable crops and technologies (International Finance Corporation, 2014). Observers have noted that a large share of long-term credit needs is not being met in Southeast Asia, despite its location near some of the world’s largest consumer markets (Shakhovskoy & Wendle, 2013). While existing financial services may be suitable for some farmers, access to finance is particularly inadequate among women, low-income groups, and ethnic minorities, and risk excluding the most vulnerable groups from these emerging economic opportunities.

The Government of Indonesia is aiming to diversify the country's food system by developing and strengthening high-value-added and more nutrient-rich value chains. In this regard, the government is focusing on diversifying into horticulture and small ruminant livestock. Undertaking Value Chain Analysis (VCA) is a critical part of this process as it helps in the identification of constraints and opportunities in relevant sectors. Agriculture funding and finance are vital components of this analytical process. This report presents a preliminary overview of opportunities and constraints as well as areas for future interventions. The analysis is based on a World Bank and FAO scoping mission to Indonesia that took place between March 2 - March 13, 2020. This report focuses on the supply-side of capital. The key findings suggest that supply-side constraints are minimal. The liquidity in Indonesia's banking system is enough and there already exist extensive physical banking networks within the country. The Indonesian banking networks include a selection of commercial and specialized banks, membership-based groups, and fintech organizations. Also, there exist several large food manufacturers that could potentially aid in the process of financing and the creation of linkages through vertical integration of value chains. The Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) in the food and agriculture sectors have been growing strongly, and they can act as accelerators and facilitate the process. The Indonesian government is supporting the development of value chains and has been actively promoting the creation of farmer organizations to aid the process. Lastly, there exists a demand for the creation of a blended finance facility that could help amplify the effects of the value chain projects, and the Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF) is a proof of such a concept that is working well in Indonesia.

Smallholder farmers in developing countries face several different constraints limiting their ability to reach their production potential. One such constraint is access to formal finance; smallholders and other agricultural value chain participants frequently cannot access credit necessary to invest in new crops or technologies, deal with risks and shocks, and or savings products to safely carry wealth from harvest to planting. New technologies, markets, and government priorities in several Southeast Asian countries combine to suggest new opportunities are emerging to overcome long-standing challenges to expanding agricultural finance: Those challenges include: (i) high transaction costs to financing in rural areas; (ii) managing risks unique to agriculture; and (iii) knowledge about how to deliver agriculture-based products.

`This is a "must read" for anyone interested in value chain finance.---Kenneth Shwedel, Agricultural Economist --Book Jacket.