Natela is 45 years old. She lives in a small village of Kakheti Region with her husband Mamuka and two adult sons (22 and 20 years old). Mamuka and his sons are busy with a family-owned small vineyard. They sell harvested grapes locally. Natela works as a saleslady in a local store. Natela requested loans from local financial institutions several times for agricultural business start-up, but without any success. Her loan request was rejected all the time, because of low income and family’s poor living conditions.

The average monthly income of the family is 200 Laris. It is hardly enough for food for a four-member family. According to Credo estimations the family belongs to the subsistence poor category.

Natela requested a loan from Credo to re-start a livestock farming venture, which was stopped three years ago because lack of turnover funds. Her loan request was approved in the framework of a new joint initiative of Kiva and Credo. The start-up loan program envisages provision of business start-up and re-startup credits with soft conditions to country rural poor, who do not have access to credit products, being regarded as “high risk borrowers” because of low income.

With the received credit Natela will purchase calves. She will raise them and sell them after several months. Grown calves will be sold with a price mark-up, bringing additional income to the family. For the next cycle, Natela will purchase more calves. The new business initiative, financed with the Kiva Start-up loan will significantly increase the income of the family. Their income will double and the family members will be able to improve their living conditions.