ON October 14 Tanzanians paid homage to Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the Founding Father of the Nation and one of Africa’s renowned statesmen.
Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) in its tribute to Mwalimu said he had undying passion for agriculture and believed the sector was key to unlock the country’s economy.
"Agriculture is the cornerstone of Tanzania’s economic recovery and resumed growth," Mwalimu is quoted to have said. TADB Managing Director Japhet Justine, participating in a homage function held in Dar es Salaam, said TADB workers had great respect for Nyerere as a torch bearer.
Mwalimu was and still is a trail blazer, Mr Justine told his audience and continued: "Following his passion and belief for agriculture as key to unlock the country’s economy, it is safe to say that Mwalimu would be proud to know that we have today in Tanzania a fully-fledged development finance institution dedicated to financing transformation of the agricultural sector the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB)."
He quoted Mwalimu’s speech and observations to underscore the fact that agriculture was too strategic to Tanzanians’ survival to be taken lightly.
"Agriculture is indeed the basis of Tanzania’s development. We need to make it understood and meaningful. We have to demonstrate by actions that better agricultural methods are possible. We have to show and not say, we have to act and not talk," said Mwalimu during his life time.
Mr Justine said TADB was established in the belief that it would be a world-class model agricultural development bank which promoted agricultural transformation from subsistence to commercialised farming and agri-business for economic growth and poverty reduction.
At the heart of the bank, Mr Justine said, lied the agricultural players in Tanzania, especially smallholder farmers. It is worth noting that smallholders account for over 90 per cent of all produce that feeds the nation, and yet when you take a look into their livelihoods, the same is not reflected.
It is against this backdrop that TADB stands for and seeks to generate lasting impact especially in terms of delivering on the promise of improved incomes and livelihoods of farmers, livestock keepers and fisheries communities.
But he also admitted that agricultural transformation would not solely depend on agricultural lending, however big it was. We take cognisance of the fact that it takes more than finance to transform a country’s agriculture.
As such, establishing and fostering strategic partnerships with key actors along the agricultural chain is central to TADB’s operating model along […]