Sensitizing BRI’s Financial Services for Cocoa Farmers in Central Sulawesi, along with GIZ AgriCRF, Edufarmers, JB Cocoa, MARS, ofi, and BRI Central Sulawesi
Central Sulawesi – The Innovative Climate-risk Financing to ASEAN’s Agricultural Sector (AgriCRF) was initiated with the purpose of providing farmers access to climate risk financing that strengthens their climate resilience and gender-responsiveness. The implementation of AgriCRF aligns with the GIZ SASCI+ project and is a part of the Integrated Development Private Partnership (iDPP) in Central Sulawesi, where it has provided 9,000 cocoa farmers with technical assistance through collaboration with JBCocoa, MARS, and ofi.
One of the primary activities of the GIZ AgriCRF project is capacity building on gender-responsive climate risk financial management for 66 trainers comprising field staff from JBCocoa, MARS, and ofi, extension workers (PPL), local NGO’s staff, farmer representatives, and youth farmers, as well as facilitated training for 5,003 cocoa farmers by Edufarmers, as the AgriCRF implementing partner, which also conducts the sensitization event for financial services to cocoa farmers. The core of this training is to increase awareness of the importance of investments in cocoa plantations so they can adapt to climate change sustainably.
In collaboration with BRI Central Sulawesi, which then further facilitated with the branch offices in Palu and Poso, where the formal event is held on five farm locations, which were Poso Pendolo (facilitated by Mars on 13 November 2025); Poso Tententa, Poso City, and Sigi Palolo (facilitated by JB Cocoa on November 17 to 20 November 2025); and South Sigi Kulawi (facilitated by ofi on 24 November 2025). The collaboration with BRI began with one of the project partners, JB Cocoa, thus opening up opportunities for Mars and ofi, benefiting the farmer beneficiaries to receive information on BRI’s financial services and products to improve the productivity of their cocoa farms.
The sensitization activity is represented by the Micro Business Managers from the Poso and Palu Branches, with the unit leaders at the activity locations. BRI delivered an explanation on the agricultural People’s Business Credit (KUR), which is adequate for cocoa farmers. “Currently, there are no specific credits for cocoa farms, but through the agricultural KUR, which is accessible for cocoa farmers to support the productivity of their plantations,” explained Munir, BRI Micro Business Manager, Palu Branch.
BRI’s KUR has been widely acknowledged amongst the cocoa farmers. During the question and answering (Q&A) session, several cocoa farmers reported that they have accessed BRI’s KUR and discussed their outstanding loans, and inquired about the possibility of reapplying for credit. Many participants also shared their challenges with loan settlement due to the disaster that struck in 2018, but since settled their payments. The participants were also interested in their status on the Financial Information Service System (SLIK) so they could reapply for KUR to support their farming activities.
“I am very pleased that this activity allows me to directly communicate with BRI about the opportunity to apply for credit related to my business as a cocoa farmer,” said Muhlis, Cocoa Farmer from Palolo, Sigi, who is starting his nursery business