MBINGA District Commissioner, Kisare Makori (pictured) has asked the banking industry to prioritise and supporting more farmers with various services to make them grow and realise their dreams.

DC Makori made the call here yesterday when speaking at the function where NBC has launched its campaign to revitalize the coffee industry in the district. 

The campaign is aimed at providing tailored financial services and support to the district's coffee farmers, driving increased productivity and prosperity.

The campaign goes hand in hand with training on various services offered by the bank, including crop insurance and health insurance, agency services, digital services, agricultural equipment, and input loans. Other services include the construction of warehouses and assistance to farmers in various activities related to agricultural season preparation and marketing of their crops.

Makori said that the banking industry has a crucial role to play by coming up with banking services that are friendly to farmers and the agricultural sector in general.

He also lauded the lender for coming up with the campaign as its arrival in the district is an important liberation for coffee farmers who require special financial services, and the government is determined to ensure the bank's intentions are successful.

"Furthermore, I am delighted to hear that through this campaign, farmers can access loans for essential tools such as tractors and other modern agricultural equipment, agricultural inputs, and pre-payment loans for farmers."

"The health and agricultural insurance services promoted by the bank through this campaign are also very important for farmers, especially in dealing with their personal health challenges and protecting themselves against losses resulting from natural disasters that affect their crops," he said.

On behalf of farmers, Loveness Kapinga, Nahongo AMCOS secretary expressed her fascination with the health insurance and crop insurance services due to the great need the farmers have for access to good healthcare services.

Kapinga also mentioned crop insurance as the right solution against the effects of various disasters that affect their crops.

Msafiri Shayo, the bank’s head of strategy said the campaign is part of the bank’s response to the government's call to contribute to the achievement of the 10/30 agenda, which aims to increase agricultural production from 5 per cent to 10 per cent by 2030.

"Alongside the launch of this campaign for coffee farmers in Mbinga district, we also offer various services for farmers, including the opening of farmers' accounts, which have no monthly charges, issuing individual farmer loans for agricultural tools such as tractors, and loans for cooperative societies (AMCOS/Union) for inputs and pre-payment through the warehouse receipt system," he stated.

Raymond Urassa, the bank’s head of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) said that it targets all farmers, including cooperative societies and individuals who will process their sales proceeds into the Shambani accounts.