Tanzania’s agriculture sector is getting a major financing boost after the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) disbursed 1.55 trillion Tanzanian shillings, or about $585.45 million, to 862 projects across the country.

The lending is supporting farmers, agribusinesses and other businesses involved in agriculture as Tanzania works to raise production and expand food processing.

TADB said 1.32 trillion shillings ($498.58 million), or 84% of its total lending, has gone to projects benefiting about 2.6 million people across all 31 regions.

The money has gone into crop production, livestock, fisheries, irrigation, warehouses, storage facilities and agro-processing.

The goal is to help farmers produce more, reduce losses after harvest and earn more from processed agricultural products.

TADB expands Agricultural financing

TADB Managing Director Frank Nyabundege announced the figures at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Nanenane agricultural exhibitions, attended by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Nyabundege said the bank had invested 611.8 billion shillings ($231.08 million) in food crops.

Strategic sectors, including edible oils, coffee, cashews, sugar and cotton, received a combined 884.24 billion shillings ($333.98 million).

Focus shifts to commercial farming

The bank said it plans to increase lending and credit guarantees as Tanzania implements its National Development Vision 2050. The strategy gives the private sector a larger role in driving investment and economic growth.

Nyabundege said better access to finance would help farmers and agribusinesses move beyond subsistence farming and invest in technology, processing and stronger links to markets. The approach is also expected to support jobs and household incomes.

TADB targets farmers and agribusinesses

The Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank is a government-owned development finance institution that provides funding to farmers, agribusinesses and other participants in the agricultural value chain. Its financing covers production, processing, storage and market access.

Nyabundege said TADB would continue providing loans and credit guarantees to support investment in agriculture and help Tanzanian businesses compete in domestic and international markets.