NBC Bank unveils “shambani” campaign for cashew, pigeon pea and sesame farmers in Tunduru
Tunduru District Commissioner in Ruvuma Region, Mr Denis Masanja (centre, holding the scissors), celebrates with other agricultural stakeholders from the district after cutting the ribbon to officially launch the “Wekeza NBC Shambani Ushinde” campaign. Organised by NBC Bank, the initiative is specifically designed for cashew, sesame, and pigeon pea farmers in the district. The launch event took place over the weekend in Tunduru. Looking on (third from right) is NBC’s Southern Zone Manager, Zubeider Haroun.
Tunduru, Ruvuma. The National Bank of Commerce (NBC) has launched its “Wekeza NBC Shambani Ushinde” campaign in Tunduru District, Ruvuma Region, targeting cashew, pigeon pea, and sesame farmers with tailored financial services and incentives.
The three-month campaign, unveiled over the weekend, is designed to strengthen farmers’ access to formal banking, encourage financial discipline, and promote the use of modern agricultural tools.
The launch was officiated by the District Commissioner, Mr Denis Masanja, who hailed NBC’s continued support for the agricultural sector. He said the initiative would stimulate the district’s economy by providing services such as financial literacy, crop and health insurance, agricultural loans, and equipment financing.
“One of the greatest strengths of this campaign lies in its emphasis on financial discipline. It educates both individual farmers and cooperatives on the benefits of saving, insurance, and investing in modern tools,” said Mr Masanja. “This is a key step toward moving farmers from informal to formal financial systems, which will drive inclusive economic growth.”
Mr Masanja also formally requested NBC management to open a permanent branch in Tunduru, citing the district’s strong agricultural base and significant financial flows during crop marketing seasons. “We earnestly urge NBC to establish a local branch, given the high transaction volumes from cashew, sesame, and pigeon pea sales, alongside artisanal mining,” he said.
Leading NBC’s delegation, the Head of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Agriculture Banking, Mr Raymond Urassa, explained that the campaign will conclude at the end of the year and will award farmers with prizes such as pesticide sprayers, bicycles, motorcycles, and maguta (three-wheeled motorcycles).
“To participate, farmers must open an NBC Shambani account and channel their crop payments through it. The aim is to encourage farmers to safeguard and manage their earnings through formal systems rather than informal means,” said Mr Urassa. “While we consider the District Commissioner’s request for a branch, we urge farmers to continue using NBC Wakala agents and our mobile banking service, NBC Kiganjani.”
Farmers’ representatives welcomed the account’s features. AMCOS leader Mr Fadhili Salada said NBC had resolved a persistent problem of dormant accounts. “For years, accounts were deactivated before payouts, complicating payments. Now, NBC Shambani accounts remain active for two years, with no maintenance fees, and even accrue interest,” he said.
Ms Grace Evarist, another AMCOS leader, echoed his remarks, praising the account’s flexibility and farmer-friendly design.
