Tanzania is boosting support for agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and agro-processing as the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) reports rapid growth in its balance sheet and lending activities.
Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar said the bank’s expansion reflected strong operational performance and a growing role in transforming rural economies.
He noted that TADB’s work was helping farmers, fishers, and livestock keepers increase incomes and improve productivity.
The minister urged the bank to focus more on higher-value crops and agribusiness projects with export potential, saying this would raise returns for farmers and strengthen Tanzania’s position in global agricultural markets.
He added that closer collaboration between TADB and the finance ministry was crucial to meeting national development goals.
TADB chief executive Frank Nyabundege said the bank’s balance sheet had grown from TZS 362.8 billion in 2021 to TZS 1.3 trillion in 2025, reflecting both improved operational efficiency and sustained government support.
He said the bank had disbursed more than TZS 1.3 trillion in loans since its establishment in 2015, funding smallholder farmers, livestock keepers, fishers, and investments in agro-processing.
Nyabundege said continued capital injections from the government and guarantees would allow TADB to access international financial markets and mobilise long-term funding for lending at scale.
He described this as essential for linking smallholder production to larger markets and value chains.
The bank’s growth supports the government’s strategy to expand rural financial services and increase agricultural productivity.
Omar said expanding credit access was a priority for sectors that employ millions of Tanzanians and contribute significantly to the country’s economy.
Nyabundege added that TADB’s work was contributing to food security and climate resilience by financing modern farming techniques and value-added processing.
He said government backing signalled “clear political commitment to transforming agriculture and connecting farmers to markets.”
The finance ministry said agricultural finance remained central to national development, with TADB helping to reduce dependence on imports, raise farm incomes, and support sustainable rural livelihoods.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Finance Minister Mshamu Ally Munde and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and TADB.