The Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) is sending 14 agricultural entrepreneurs to Japan to learn about technologies that can improve farming, storage, processing, and value addition. The initiative, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aims to enhance food security and increase agricultural production in Tanzania. The selected entrepreneurs, who are TADB customers, will explore possible sources of agricultural equipment and build networks with Japanese businesses.
TADB Director General Frank Nyabundege said the bank wants to support its customers beyond lending by providing opportunities to learn from other countries. The visit will allow the entrepreneurs to see firsthand how technology is used in Japan and meet businesses in the sector. Most of the beneficiaries are involved in the maize and rice value chains, which are crucial to Tanzania's food security. Supporting these businesses will encourage more processing and value addition within the country.
The selected entrepreneurs will be accompanied by agricultural extension officers from the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture. This will ensure that lessons from the visit are shared widely and put into use in Tanzania's agricultural sector. The visit is part of TADB's efforts to combine financing with practical support for its customers, having previously supported over 830 customers through capacity-building programs.
The 14 customers selected for the Japan program have collectively received over Sh62 billion from TADB, which has helped them establish or expand facilities, including warehouses and small-scale rice and maize processing plants. TADB is encouraging borrowers to move beyond selling raw agricultural produce and invest more in processing and value addition. The bank believes that processing agricultural products locally will increase their value and competitiveness.
For the beneficiaries, the visit is expected to offer an opportunity to learn from Japan's experience and address some of the challenges facing agricultural businesses in Tanzania. Kamal Simba, a farmer from Zanzibar and one of the selected customers, said he is looking forward to learning from Japan's experience and applying it to his business. He believes that exposure to new technology can help farmers improve their businesses and make agriculture a more sustainable source of income.
The visit is part of TADB's Customer Service Week activities, themed "The Extra Mile." The bank's initiative aims to support its customers in improving their operations and contributing to Tanzania's food security. By empowering people across the maize and rice value chains, TADB hopes to strengthen food supplies and encourage more processing and value addition within the country.
The program is expected to have a positive impact on Tanzania's agricultural sector, with the potential to increase food production and improve the livelihoods of farmers. The visit to Japan will provide valuable insights and knowledge that can be applied to address some of the challenges facing agricultural businesses in Tanzania. The selected entrepreneurs will be able to share their experiences and knowledge with other farmers and businesses in Tanzania.
Key points
- Tanzanian farmers to learn from Japan's agricultural technology
- TADB supports customers beyond lending with capacity-building programs
- Visit aims to enhance food security and increase agricultural production in Tanzania
