Mixx, TCDC expand farmers’ digital finance access

DODOMA: Farmers are set to gain wider access to digital financial services after Mixx by Yas renewed its partnership with the Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission (TCDC), supporting efforts to modernise cooperatives and expand financial inclusion across agricultural sector.

The renewed collaboration reflects a broader push to digitise financial transactions within cooperative societies, improve governance and transparency, and provide farmers with easier access to savings, payments and credit through mobile technology.

Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture responsible for Crop Development and Food Security, Prof Peter Msoffe, said cooperative societies remain among the country’s most important economic institutions, handling transactions estimated at between 5tri/- and 7tri/- annually.

“Cooperative societies facilitate transactions worth between 5tri/- and 7tri/-, making them one of the country’s most important economic institutions,” Prof Msoffe said during the signing ceremony in Dodoma.

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He said digitising cooperative operations would improve efficiency, strengthen accountability and enhance service delivery to millions of members, many of whom depend on agriculture as their primary source of income.

Mixx Commercial Director, Mr James Sumari said the renewed partnership is designed to equip cooperative societies with digital financial management tools that simplify operations while expanding access to formal financial services for farmers.

“Our goal is to enable cooperative societies to manage their finances with greater transparency while providing members with easier access to financial services. Ultimately, this will enhance productivity and contribute to improving livelihoods and economic growth,” Sumari said.

Under the partnership, cooperatives will use the Mixx Kikoba platform to manage member contributions, process payments, facilitate share purchases, distribute dividends and support loan applications through mobile phones.

The system is expected to reduce reliance on cash transactions and manual record-keeping while improving financial accountability.

Sumari said Mixx has already established a significant presence in Tanzania’s agricultural sector through its Mixx Kilimo platform, which has reached more than 300,000 farmers over the past six years. During that period, the platform facilitated financial transactions worth more than 700bn/-, supporting payments across the agricultural value chain.

Registrar of Cooperative Societies and TCDC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Benson Ndiege said digital technology is becoming increasingly important in strengthening governance and operational efficiency within cooperative societies.

He said the government continues to promote digital transformation as part of broader efforts to improve transparency, accountability and financial inclusion, particularly in rural communities where cooperatives play a central role in agricultural production and marketing.