IFC funds Agrofértil to boost farm financing and tech in Paraguay

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced financing for Paraguan agricultural input distributor and grain trader Agrofértil S.A. The funding is intended to expand access to pre-harvest financing and farm inputs across the country.

Agrofértil combines agricultural supplies, financing and technical assistance through an integrated service model that brings several farming needs together in one place. Its products include crop protection products, fertilizers, seeds and biological products, distributed through more than 30 regional centres. The company also has storage capacity of 811,000 metric tons, supporting its operations as an input supplier and grain trader serving producers throughout Paraguay.

The IFC investment will support the expansion of digital agriculture solutions that combine climate data with agronomic information to guide farming decisions. These tools are intended to help producers manage climate risks and strengthen crop productivity, complementing Agrofértil's existing distribution and technical assistance network.

The project supports agricultural value chains in a sector that accounts for 18 percent of Paraguay's national employment, giving improvements in farm productivity wider importance for livelihoods and the economy.

Agrofértil's Chief Financial Officer, Adilson Benedito Antonio Junior, stated the partnership supports the company's ambition to serve as a comprehensive partner to Paraguayan farmers. He said the financing would help Agrofértil reach more producers, particularly small and medium-sized farmers, with quality inputs, timely funding and technology that supports more effective farming.

The IFC project also seeks to contribute to grain production equivalent to feeding 5.3 million people by 2031, alongside efforts to strengthen agricultural value chains. World Bank Group Representative for Paraguay Boris Weber highlighted the sector's potential to create quality jobs and support economic activity through better access to resources for smaller producers.