Kiva conducts regular, ongoing monitoring of all Lending Partners, but only posts status updates here in response to relevant, major changes at the partner.

Status update - July 16, 2018

ACM has Kiva and Agro Capital Management have agreed to end their partnership after 6 years and almost $400,000 in loans raised. This partner has repaid its outstanding balance to Kiva in full, and these funds have been distributed to lenders. We thank Agro Capital Management for the years of collaboration and wish them success in their future endeavours.

Status update - December 8, 2015

ACM has successfully moved from the Crimea region of Ukraine and has resumed operations from a new office in Kiev. ACM is still working with its clients that are having difficulties repaying due to political and economic instability, but is looking forward to assisting new clients in other parts of Ukraine. Given this development, Kiva is happy to resume our partnership with ACM in order to continue providing access to finance to those with very limited financing options and who are most in need of economic support.

Status update - March 19, 2014

The majority of ACM’s borrowers live and work in the now-disputed Crimean peninsula region. Due to the political and economic instability in the Crimea, ACM's clients are facing challenges that may make it difficult to repay their loans at this time. Kiva has paused its funding for now, but hopes to continue to support ACM’s much-needed development efforts in the future. Kiva has been in close contact with ACM and its other partner in the Ukraine, and we remain concerned about the safety and well-being of staff and clients affected by recent events.

Partner Description:

Agro Capital Management (ACM) is an organization that connects Ukrainian farmers with local agricultural goods suppliers to provide them with the resources they need to improve crop yields and increase their revenue. In particular, ACM expands access to affordable agricultural technology so that entrepreneurs can further develop their small businesses, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for their families and communities.

ACM works on a lease-to-own model, allowing farmers to install and begin using the equipment and goods they buy before paying in full. The organization purchases these supplies before selling them to farmers on a payment plan. These contracts are broken up into suitable monthly payments to optimize farmers' ability to pay, and all products are supplied by local agricultural businesses that cater to their specific needs. In its first two years alone, ACM signed 536 contracts, supporting the planting of 84 hectares of grape seedlings, the creation of 22,000 square meters of greenhouse space, the installation of 2,300 tons of cold storage, and the purchase of over USD$1 million of locally-sold goods.

In addition to supplies, ACM's clients receive technical training and assistance from the Ukraine Horticultural Development Project, an organization created by the Mennonite Economic Development Associates in Canada that helps farmers overcome economic and market-based challenges in rural Ukraine. To cover costs, ACM charges farmers a small service fee. The amount of Kiva loans listed covers both the costs of the agricultural goods and the associated service fees.