TADB to mark 10 years of agricultural financing success

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) will this August commemorate its 10-year anniversary, celebrating a decade of progress in unlocking finance for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses across the country.

Established in 2015 as a development finance institution, TADB was tasked with bridging the agricultural financing gap and driving sectoral growth.

A decade later, its impact can be seen in expanded credit access, improved crop yields and a broader shift in how banks approach agricultural lending. TADB Managing Director Frank Nyabundege said the bank has strategically supported value chains and enhanced yields through targeted credit and technical assistance.

“This year will be different … we plan to give more as we celebrate our 10th anniversary,” he said over the weekend.

The bank that operates in eight zones is planning to launch three regional offices in Kagera, Kigoma and Ruvuma to enhance strategic agricultural investment in the areas. TADB’s Director of Planning, Advisory and Corporate Affairs Mkani Waziri said the anniversary is not only a milestone but also a moment for reflection and recommitment.

“We were never meant to be a commercial bank, but a national tool to unlock opportunities for farmers,” Mr Waziri said in an interview.

ALSO READ: TADB balance sheet triples in four years

The anniversary will coincide with the national agricultural exhibition, Nanenane, where TADB is expected to highlight success stories from across the country — from improved rice yields to increased women’s participation in agribusiness. Since 2018, the bank has grown its loan portfolio from 63bn/- to 447bn/- in June 2025.

Mr Waziri attributes the growth to strong political will, enabling policies, and partnerships with institutions like the Bank of Tanzania and JICA.

“One key success is our Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme, which has allowed us to work with commercial banks that once avoided agricultural lending altogether,” Waziri said.

The bank has also played a leadership role in building capacity among local banks, offering training in how to assess and structure agriculture loans — an area long seen as risky and complex.

Currently, agricultural loans make up 3.4 per cent of the entire loan portfolio across the banking sector, a major improvement from a decade ago.