Imbizo 2026 | Banking and risk: Key insights for modern farmers

At the African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026 in Pretoria, Andrie Greeff, Head of Agri-Business Specialists at Standard Bank, addressed a packed audience of farmers and agribusiness stakeholders. His presentation tackled a topic often whispered about but seldom discussed openly: finances.

By Marieke Snyman, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

Greeff emphasised that while banks are traditionally seen as profit-driven, their role in agriculture extends far beyond simply “making money off farmers”.

Drawing on his extensive experience, Greeff outlined strategic and practical guidance for farmers, particularly those navigating the challenges of emerging farming operations. Three key themes emerged from his talk:

Understanding risk and credit
Structuring your farming business for success
Leveraging support and technology for sustainable growth

Understanding Risk and Credit

Greeff opened by framing the two pillars of agricultural financing: risk and credit.

“The better you understand risk, the better a bank can lend to you,” he explained.

Risk, in his terms, refers to potential unforeseen events that could impact your operation, from fluctuating commodity prices to extreme weather. Credit, meanwhile, is the contractual obligation to repay funds received.

He stressed that farmers should be proactive in assessing both financial and non-financial risks. Financial risks include production and market uncertainties, such as crop yields, input costs and cash flow management. Non-financial risks cover broader aspects like business structure, market positioning and governance. Greeff highlighted tools like SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis and market assessments to help farmers gauge their exposure and build robust business plans.

A practical takeaway was his emphasis on using historical data to project cash flow and plan for expansion. By mapping expected yields, costs and market prices, farmers can more accurately determine their funding needs and present compelling cases to financial institutions.

Structuring Your Farming Enterprise

Greeff devoted significant attention to the often-overlooked importance of proper business structuring. He observed that many farmers operate multiple enterprises – such as livestock, crops, or poultry – under a single entity. While convenient, this can deter investors or banks from funding individual operations.

“If you have chicken, cattle and maize under one company, it’s difficult for someone to invest in just the chicken operation without taking on the rest,” he explained.

His advice: Plan your entity structure from the start. Separate entities for different operations not only clarify cash flows and accountability but also make expansion or investment more feasible. This approach extends to proper record-keeping, bank accounts and management systems.

In his words, “Success in planning is very important. If something happens and records aren’t clear, it becomes difficult to access funding or transfer operations.”

Greeff also highlighted the growing relevance of ESG (environmental, social and governance) principles. Proper management, worker welfare and environmentally responsible practices increasingly influence financing decisions, particularly for larger-scale or investor-backed operations.

Leveraging Support, Technology and Collaboration

Beyond risk and structure, Greeff encouraged farmers to take advantage of available support systems and innovations. Standard Bank, for example, engages in projects that support emerging farmers, including educational initiatives at universities and produce procurement for community support. Greeff sees such programmes as valuable examples of how strategic partnerships can strengthen operations and create new opportunities.

He also stressed the importance of modern farming practices: precision agriculture, crop rotations, sustainable water management and disease prevention. Technology, from irrigation systems to solar energy, enhances both productivity and resilience. Co-operative structures or pooling resources was another avenue he highlighted, helping farmers negotiate better prices and reduce operational risks collectively.

Funding Insights for Farmers

Closing his presentation, Greeff provided a clear breakdown of funding options:

Short-term funding – primarily for working capital and operational expenses, usually less than a year.
Medium-term loans – used for asset purchases or enterprise expansion, typically spanning two to five years.
Long-term funding – for major developments or large-scale asset acquisitions, often renewable and structured around projected cash flows.

He stressed that these tools, combined with strong planning, proper entity structure, and a good understanding of both financial and non-financial risks, create a solid foundation for sustainable growth.

Bank are Partners in Growth

Greeff’s overarching message was that farming is both challenging and rewarding. Banks, he affirmed, are not just creditors but partners in growth.

“Everybody in agriculture does it because we love it,” he said. “We navigate risks, make plans and innovate – but above all, we need to structure our businesses, understand the numbers and leverage support to thrive.”

His advice resonated as a practical roadmap: Assess risk meticulously, structure your farming operations strategically, embrace technology and partnerships, and understand the funding landscape thoroughly. For emerging and established farmers alike, these lessons offer both clarity and confidence in a sector where the stakes are high and the rewards, potentially, even higher.

African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026

The African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026 is taking place on 26 and 27 March at Time Square Hotel in Pretoria. This two-day event will bring together more than 200 farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, policymakers, financiers and industry leaders. The goal is clear: To align resources, unlock opportunities and strengthen partnerships that will accelerate the growth of South Africa’s new generation of commercial farmers.

Hosted by African Farming, the Imbizo builds on a strong commitment to advancing black commercial agriculture through information-sharing, networking and development-driven platforms.