TADB facilitates 692bn/-in loans to smallholder farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs

DODOMA: THE Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) has facilitated loans worth 692bn/- to smallholder farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs through 21 financial institutions, using a 108bn/- guarantee fund.

The financing has benefited more than 657,000 people, meaning that every shilling committed as a guarantee has unlocked more than six shillings in credit for farmers and entrepreneurs engaged in agriculture. The initiative is aimed at improving access to finance and expanding productive activities across the agricultural value chain.

TADB Managing Director Frank Nyabundege made the revelation in the presence of President Samia Suluhu Hassan during the conclusion of the 2026 Nanenane Agricultural Exhibition. He thanked the Government for continuing to prioritise agriculture, livestock and fisheries, describing the sectors as critical pillars for economic growth and national food security.

He said the achievements had been largely supported by the Government’s decision to increase TADB’s capital from 60bn/- to 452bn/-. According to Mr Nyabundege, the Government has invested 392bn/-, equivalent to 86.7 per cent of the bank’s capital, in its investment phases.

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He said the increase in the bank’s capital demonstrated the Government’s commitment to making agriculture a key driver of food security, employment creation and economic growth. The additional capital has strengthened TADB’s capacity to expand financial support to farmers and other players across the agricultural value chain.

The bank’s performance has also earned it international recognition after receiving the Global Brand Award 2026 for being the Best Bank with the Best Financial Solutions in Tanzania’s agricultural sector. Mr Nyabundege said the award demonstrated that Government investment in agriculture through its institutions was producing results that were gaining international recognition.

However, he stressed that TADB’s greatest achievement could not be measured by awards alone, but by the tangible impact of its financing on citizens. “Our greatest achievement is not the award; it is the positive impact on wananchi. It is food reaching the table, crops being saved from post-harvest losses, industries adding value to agricultural produce, jobs being created, markets expanding and household incomes increasing,” he said.

Mr Nyabundege pledged that TADB would continue working closely with the Government to build a competitive and productive agricultural sector capable of making a greater contribution to national economic growth. The bank’s interventions are expected to further improve access to affordable financing, particularly for smallholder farmers who continue to face challenges in accessing credit on favourable terms.