This case study considers the experience of a small medium enterprise (SME) seeking finance for a multi-crop agricultural venture.  The SME is a long-standing client of the Bank with existing accounts for its boutique hotel business.

The case highlights the importance of establishing a clear understanding of land tenure regimes and potential claims on land ownership and/or occupancy rights during the credit risk analysis.  The legitimacy of lease titles and approvals obtained from the government can be contested in areas where communities have previously obtained occupancy and usage rights for significant periods of time but without any formal security of tenure.  This in turn can disrupt projects particularly greenfield developments.