The Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) has been urged to strengthen its lending strategies and expand access to affordable agricultural financing for small-scale farmers, particularly those in rural areas, to boost agricultural productivity and improve livelihoods.
The call was made on Saturday, November 7, 2026, by members of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Investments (PIC) during a working visit to the bank’s headquarters, where they assessed its performance, achievements and challenges.
Speaking during the visit, Kivule Member of Parliament Ojambi Massaburi said the bank should prioritise reaching grassroots farmers, noting that improving access to agricultural loans would have a significant impact on the country’s agricultural sector.
Massaburi commended TADB for its financial performance and resilience, recalling that the bank had faced the possibility of closure in 2015 but had since strengthened its operations.
He further praised the bank for maintaining its capital base of TZS 60 billion and increasing its dividend contribution to the government to TZS 8.4 billion, from TZS 500 million three years ago.
He also urged the bank to align its operations with the country’s Development Vision 2050 by exploring innovative financing mechanisms, including joint ventures, bonds, share investments and public-private partnerships (PPPs), to mobilise additional capital and strengthen its capacity.
Meanwhile, TADB Board Chairman Ishmael Andulile Kasekwa said the bank appreciated the committee’s visit and recommendations, adding that the advice would be considered and implemented to improve the bank’s performance and its contribution to national development.
Kasekwa emphasised that reaching small-scale farmers in rural communities remained a key priority, as supporting farmers at the grassroots level would generate greater impact across the agricultural value chain.
For his part, TADB Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Operations, David Nghambi, said the bank was implementing strategies to expand its geographical reach and improve access to agricultural financing.
He said TADB had established eight zonal offices, alongside regional offices in Kagera, Ruvuma and Kigoma, to bring its services closer to farmers.
Nghambi added that the bank also works with commercial banks as key partners in extending loans to small-scale farmers across the country.
He said the committee’s recommendations would guide the bank in strengthening collaboration and communication with commercial banking partners to ensure more farmers benefit from agricultural financing.