Support and Guarantee Fund for Farmers and Forestry

What Support and Guarantee Fund for Farmers and Forestry does

PGRLF (Podpůrný a garanční rolnický a lesnický fond, a.s.), legally translated as the Support and Guarantee Fund for Farmers and Forestry, is a Czech state-owned financial institution established on June 23, 1993, and wholly owned by the Czech Republic, with shareholder rights exercised by the Ministry of Agriculture. It operates as a three-pillar support system for Czech agriculture, forestry, and food production: (1) interest rate subsidies that reduce the cost of commercial bank loans for agricultural equipment, real estate, and land purchases; (2) direct investment loans of 100,000 CZK to 10 million CZK, available with up to 30% principal-reduction grants; and (3) insurance premium subsidies covering 10–65% of crop, livestock, and forestry insurance costs. The fund runs more than 10 distinct support programs under EU de minimis state-aid rules, with interest subsidies capped at 5% p.a. and credit caps of up to 75 million CZK for real-estate investments.

The fund serves Czech farmers, foresters, food manufacturers, and wood processors — primarily SMBs — through an electronic application portal (zadost.pgrlf.cz), a network of regional representatives across the Czech Republic, and a partner-bank channel that includes ČSOB, Komerční banka, Česká spořitelna, Raiffeisenbank, UniCredit, MONETA Money Bank, and Air Bank, plus several leasing subsidiaries. The fund is headquartered in Prague (Sokolovská 394/17, 186 00 Praha 8) with a regional office in Brno, led since June 2022 by Chairman Josef Kučera.

The underlying "technology" is conventional public-sector administration rather than a software product: a web-based application intake system, digital contract signing via Czech Bank iD, and standardized program workflows. The fund's revenue is not commercially generated; it administers state budget allocations to channel subsidies, grants, and reduced-interest financing. Over 30+ years of operation, PGRLF reports it has facilitated 252 billion CZK in credit volume for Czech agricultural and forestry beneficiaries. The entity faces regulatory exposure following a July 29, 2025 European Commission decision requiring the Czech Republic to recover certain insurance-support disbursements deemed inconsistent with state-aid rules.

Name

Support and Guarantee Fund for Farmers and Forestry

Legal name

Podpůrný a garanční rolnický a lesnický fond, a.s.

Website

https://pgrlf.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PGRLF is a Czech state-owned financial institution, wholly owned by the Czech Republic and overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture, providing interest-rate subsidies, direct investment loans, and insurance premium subsidies to Czech farmers, foresters, food manufacturers, and wood processors across more than 10 support programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Finance

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231), International, Secondary Market, and All Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation (522299)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (BPADACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Policy Banks (Government-Directed Lending Banks) (FSABAKAM), Budget Support & Policy-Based Lending/Grants (BPADAOAG), SBA/USDA Government-Backed Loan Intermediation (FSAEAEAI)

Keywords

• Agricultural loan subsidies
• Forestry investment loans
• Agricultural insurance support
• Government farm financing
• Agribusiness credit support

Headquarters

HQ city

Praha

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest Rate Subsidies: PGRLF provides subsidies that reduce interest rates on commercial loans taken by farmers, foresters, and food producers from partner banks. The fund covers a portion of the interest, making loans more affordable for agricultural businesses.
2. Direct Loans: PGRLF provides direct investment loans (Investiční úvěry) to small and medium agricultural and forestry enterprises. These are interest-bearing loans with the possibility of principal reduction grants.
3. Insurance Subsidies: The fund provides subsidies covering a portion of insurance premiums paid by farmers for crop and livestock insurance, as well as forestry insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PGRLF administers a portfolio of more than 10 financial support programs for Czech farmers, foresters, and food producers structured around three pillars: (1) interest rate subsidies on commercial bank loans (Zemědělec, Podpora nákupu půdy, Potravinář, Lesní hospodář, Zpracovatel dřeva, Zpracovatel programs), (2) insurance premium subsidies for crop, livestock, forest stand, and forest nursery insurance, and (3) direct investment loans (Investiční úvěry Zemědělec and Investiční úvěry Lesnictví) ranging from 100,000 CZK to 10 million CZK with principal reduction subsidies up to 30%.

Product overview

PGRLF (Podpůrný a garanční rolnický a lesnický fond, a.s.) operates a comprehensive portfolio of financial support programs for Czech agriculture, forestry, and food production sectors. The fund functions as a three-pillar system: (1) interest rate subsidies on commercial loans (Zemědělec, Podpora nákupu půdy, Potravinář, Lesní hospodář, Zpracovatel dřeva, Zpracovatel programs), (2) insurance subsidies (Finanční podpora pojištění, Pojištění lesních porostů, Pojištění lesních školek), and (3) direct investment loans (Investiční úvěry Zemědělec, Investiční úvěry Lesnictví). The fund enables Czech farmers, foresters, and food producers to access credit totaling 252 billion CZK. PGRLF offers over 10 support programs under de minimis state aid rules, targeting small and medium enterprises as well as larger agricultural businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zemědělec (Farmer) Program Interest rate subsidy program providing subsidies to reduce the interest burden on commercial loans taken by agricultural primary producers for purchasing agricultural machinery (up to 15 million CZK) or real estate investments (up to 75 million CZK). Maximum support rate of 5% p.a.
• Podpora nákupu půdy (Land Purchase Support) Interest rate subsidy program enabling agricultural land acquisition for primary producers, provided under de minimis regime with maximum support equivalent to 50,000 EUR.
• Potravinář (Food Producer) Program Interest rate subsidy program supporting food manufacturers with subsidies on commercial loans for investments in processing agricultural products, with maximum credit volume of 50 million CZK per calendar year.
• Lesní hospodář (Forestry) Program Interest rate subsidy program supporting forestry sector development through subsidies on commercial loans for purchasing forestry machinery and technologies, with maximum credit volume of 20 million CZK.
• Zpracovatel dřeva (Wood Processor) Program Interest rate subsidy program supporting wood processing businesses with subsidies for purchasing wood processing machinery and technologies, covering activities under CZ-NACE 16.11 through 16.26.
• Zpracovatel (Processor) Program Interest rate subsidy program supporting investments in agricultural product processing for animal feed production, with land purchase eligible up to 10% of total eligible investment costs.
• Finanční podpora pojištění (Financial Insurance Support) Insurance subsidy program reimbursing part of insurance costs for crop and livestock insurance, with support rates ranging from 10% to 65% of documented insurance expenses depending on insurance type.
• Pojištění lesních porostů (Forest Stands Insurance) Insurance subsidy program providing subsidies for insurance of forest stands, offered under de minimis regime to protect forestry businesses against unpredictable damages.
• Pojištění lesních školek (Forest Nursery Insurance) Insurance subsidy program subsidizing insurance for forest tree seedlings grown in forest nurseries, covering risks such as hail, fire, windstorm, flood, landslides, winter damage, and frost.
• Investiční úvěry Zemědělec (Investment Loans Farmer) Direct investment loan program for small and medium agricultural enterprises, providing loans from 100,000 CZK to 10 million CZK with principal reduction subsidy up to 30% (or 400,000 CZK), for purchasing agricultural machinery and equipment.
• Investiční úvěry Lesnictví (Investment Loans Forestry) Direct investment loan program for forestry and forest nursery businesses, providing loans from 100,000 CZK to 10 million CZK with repayment period up to 15 years and principal reduction subsidy up to 30% (or 400,000 CZK).

Quantifiable outcome

• 252 billion CZK in total loan volume enabled for Czech farmers over 30+ years of operation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Partner Commercial BankscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPGRLF collaborates with multiple commercial banks including ČSOB, Komerční banka, Česká spořitelna, Raiffeisenbank, UniCredit Bank, MONETA Money Bank, Air Bank, ČSOB Leasing, ESSOX, GEFA, UniCredit Leasing, and IMPULS-Leasing-AUSTRIA for interest subsidy programs.
• National Development Bank (NRB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on PGRLF's official website.
• State Agricultural Intervention Fund (SZIF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on PGRLF's official website.
• Export Credit Insurance Corporation (EGAP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on PGRLF's official website.
• State Phytosanitary Administration (ÚKZÚZ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on PGRLF's official website.
• National Forestry Centre (NZM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on PGRLF's official website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Státní zemědělský intervenční fond (SZIF): Czech State Agricultural Intervention Fund administers EU and national agricultural subsidies and market interventions in the Czech Republic. It is a direct peer as the principal Czech entity implementing agricultural subsidy policy alongside PGRLF, with overlapping target beneficiaries (Czech farmers and food producers).
• Národní rozvojová banka (NRB): Czech National Development Bank (formerly ČMZRB's transformation) operates as the Czech state development bank providing financing for infrastructure, SMEs, and strategic sectors. It is a direct peer as a state-owned Czech DFI that channels subsidized credit to priority sectors, with PGRLF listed as a partner organization.
• EGAP: Czech Export Credit Insurance Corporation is a state-owned entity providing export guarantees and insurance for Czech exporters. It is a peer as another specialized Czech state financial institution listed as a PGRLF partner, with comparable state ownership and policy-bank mandate.
• Českomoravská záruční a rozvojová banka (ČMZRB): Czech-Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank is another Czech state-owned development finance institution providing guarantees, loans, and subsidies to SMEs. It is the closest direct peer to PGRLF in terms of mandate, ownership (state-backed), and subsidy/loan intermediation model, though it serves all SMEs rather than just agriculture/forestry.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA is a U.S. federal agency providing government-backed loans, loan guarantees, and grants to American small businesses including agricultural producers. It is a broad incumbent peer operating a comparable government-backed loan guarantee and subsidy model at much larger scale and across all SME sectors.
• European Investment Fund (EIF): EIF is the EU-level development finance institution providing guarantees, equity, and SME loan intermediation across Europe. It is a broad incumbent peer at EU level that channels support into Czech agriculture/forestry through partner DFI structures parallel to PGRLF's role.
• USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA): The USDA FSA administers federal farm loan programs, commodity support, and disaster relief for U.S. agricultural producers. It is a broad incumbent peer operating a closely analogous model of government-backed agricultural loans, insurance subsidies, and disaster support for farmers.

Regional players

• KfW Group: KfW is Germany's state-owned development bank providing subsidized loans, guarantees, and grants to German SMEs, agriculture, and green sectors. It is a regional peer operating in a neighboring Central European market with a comparable state-backed subsidy and lending mandate at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/PGRLF_CR
• Facebookfacebook.com/PGRLF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pgrlf-a.s.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Support and Guarantee Fund for Farmers and Forestry