Tanzania: Farmers Assured of TIB Wide Spread Services

Dodoma — THE government has assured farmers over the countrywide services from the Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB) despite fewer branches upcountry.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Mr Christopher Chiza told the National Assembly that TIB was able to serve farmers but noted that plans were underway to open branches upcountry.
"I have talked to TIB managers and they assured me that they have strong systems to reach the whole country despite limited branches and moreover they told me of their plans to open up more branches upcountry," he said.

He was responding to a question by Ms Amina Makilagi (Special Seats- CCM), who wanted to know government's plans to ensure farmers have access to loans through agricultural window at TIB.
She also wanted to know plans to motivate Tanzanians engage more in agriculture and how many women are involved in farming activities and apply modern implements.
Mr Chiza noted that introduction of modern implements in agriculture was one way of attracting youths and the general public to indulge in agriculture. He added that in the past years 70 per cent of farmers used hand hoe, 20 per cent used plough and only 10 per cent used tractors in farming. Mr Chiza added that in the recent years the government in collaboration with private sector has imported 9,148 tractors and 5,520 power tillers.
"The importation of tractors and power tillers has brought major positive changes in the agricultural sector, whereby at the moment only 64 per cent use hand hoe, 22 per cent plough and 12 per cent now use tractors," he said.

He added that in enabling women and youths in the agricultural sector, the government through District Agriculture Development Plans (DADPs) has been giving soft loans to farmers where they contribute only 20 per cent of the actual price.
He added that TIB through its agriculture window has also been giving soft loans to farmers and the government continues to give subsidised farm inputs.
"We do not give loans and other benefits on gender basis and therefore it is not easy to say exactly how many women have benefited, but we may come up with such data later," he said.