PASS Trust Issues TZS 2.4 Trillion in Guarantees to Boost Agricultural Investment





Dar es Salaam


The agricultural development organization, PASS Trust, has announced that it has issued loan guarantees worth TZS 2.4 trillion over the past 25 years to stimulate investment in Tanzania’s agricultural sector.


The statement was made yesterday in Dar es Salaam during the PASS Trust Forum 2025, which brought together officials from various banks to discuss strategies for creating a more inclusive and supportive financial environment for farmers, aiming to enhance productivity and strengthen the national economy.


Speaking on behalf of the PASS Trust Managing Director, Yohane Kaduma, the Director of Business Development, Adam Kamanda, said the institution has played a crucial role in bridging farmers with financial institutions through loan guarantee services covering up to 80 percent of the credit value.


Kamanda noted that PASS Trust has been providing these services for over two and a half decades, as part of efforts by the Government of Tanzania in collaboration with the Government of Denmark to promote sustainable agribusiness and financial accountability.


He added that the PASS Trust Forum 2025 marks the conclusion of a series of agricultural stakeholder meetings held in various regions across the country, with the Dar es Salaam session bringing together participants from Pwani, Morogoro, Dodoma, and Zanzibar.


Kamanda also commended the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for prioritizing the agricultural sector, noting that the Ministry of Agriculture’s budget has increased significantly to reach TZS 1.2 trillion under the leadership of President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan.


He explained that the increased budget focuses on improving agricultural infrastructure, especially irrigation systems, enhancing productivity, and reducing reliance on rainfall, which still hinders many farmers nationwide.


Kamanda further elaborated that PASS Trust assists farmers in developing business plans, connects them to financial institutions, and provides cash collateral to secure loans — a model that simplifies credit access for farmers while ensuring banks’ loan safety.


On his part, Temeke District Commissioner, Sixtus Mapunda, speaking on behalf of Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Albert Chalamila, called on institutions such as PASS Trust to increase public awareness about the importance of agriculture, fisheries, and livestock as formal and vital sectors for national development.


Mapunda emphasized that despite these sectors being the main sources of employment and food for Tanzanians, they are still undervalued, urging for deliberate efforts to change public perception.


> “It is time for institutions like PASS Trust to educate the public that a farmer is equivalent to a bank manager. Agriculture is a formal profession, a respectable job, and the most reliable means of self-employment in today’s economy,” said Mapunda.


He further commended the Sixth Phase Government for increasing the agriculture budget over the past four years, a move that has opened new opportunities for citizens and inspired greater participation in farming and livestock activities.


The forum also coincided with the 25th Anniversary Celebration of PASS Trust, marking a quarter-century of empowering farmers, livestock keepers, and fishers through innovative financial solutions and strategic partnerships.


#PASSTrust #AgricultureTanzania #SamiaSuluhuHassan #KilimoKwanza #FinancialInclusion #AgriFinance #DarEsSalaam #TanzaniaAgriculture #FarmersEmpowerment #AgribusinessDevelopment


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