Inquiry into Lending to Primary Production Customers

Access to credit to manage cash flow is paramount to the farm sector, given the infrequent nature of payments for crops and livestock and other primary products. Farmers need to access credit to invest in, and improve, their productivity through adoption of new technologies and production methods. The key priorities for NFF regarding lending to primary producers include:
• Availability of debt finance from Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions (ADIs) and other non-ADI lenders;
• The terms of debt finance from ADIs and non-ADI lenders;
• The degree of competition in the provision of rural debt finance.