NBC Bank launches campaign to empower farmers, herders in Mbeya
Rungwe District Commissioner, Jaffar Haniu (center), cuts the ribbon to officially launch the “Shinda Mechi Zako Kinamna Yako na NBC Shambani” Campaign in Tukuyu, Rungwe District. Also pictured are NBC Tukuyu Branch Manager Erick Mbeyale (second from right), agricultural stakeholders, and bank officials.
This campaign not only seeks to empower farmers and livestock keepers economically but also to create a more inclusive financial environment that supports the backbone of our nation’s economy.
Tukuyu. The National Bank of Commerce (NBC) has launched an innovative campaign aimed at empowering farmers and livestock keepers in the Rungwe and Kyela districts of Mbeya region.
Through its ‘Shinda Machi Zako Kinamna Yako na NBC Shambani campaign, seeks to bolster agricultural and livestock activities by encouraging formal financial practices and providing opportunities to win valuable prizes.
The campaign, officially unveiled in Tukuyu on Friday November 22, 2024, was graced by Rungwe District Commissioner Jaffar Haniu and attracted key stakeholders, including leaders from primary societies and major cooperative societies for farmers and livestock keepers (AMCOS), along with other key players in the value chain.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Haniu lauded NBC’s efforts to address the financial challenges faced by farmers and livestock keepers.
“The strength of this campaign lies in its incorporation of financial discipline education for individual farmers and cooperative societies. This initiative will empower them to understand the importance of saving, the necessity for various insurance products such as health and agricultural insurance, and the value of investing in modern farming tools,” he said.
Mr. Haniu further highlighted the transformative impact of this campaign, stating, “This initiative is poised to encourage our farmers to embrace formal financial services, thereby enhancing the inclusivity of our economy. This marks a significant progression from previous years when farmers and livestock keepers were often viewed with skepticism by financial institutions due to concerns over reliability and collateral.”
Mr. Erick Mbeyale, Manager of the NBC Tukuyu branch, spearheaded the launch alongside other bank officials. The campaign offers exciting opportunities for farmers and livestock keepers in Rungwe and Kyela to win a variety of prizes, including smartphones, motorcycles, and modern scales for weighing their produce.
Elaborating on the campaign, NBC Tukuyu Branch Manager Mr. Erick Mbeyale detailed that the initiative specifically aims to engage farmers, livestock keepers, and their representative societies that are served by the bank.
To be eligible for prizes, Mr. Mbeyale explained that individual farmers or livestock keepers must maintain account balances between Sh500,000 and Sh3.5 million while AMCOS must hold between Sh50 million and Sh100 million.
“The primary objective of this campaign is to motivate farmers and livestock keepers to safeguard their funds within formal banking systems rather than relying on informal alternatives,” he emphasized.
Earlier in the program, NBC Bank’s Relationships Manager (Insurance) in Southern Highland Zone Tanzania, Mr. Amani Swilla delivered insights on various insurance products available to farmers and livestock keepers through NBC.
He noted that the services provide crucial benefits, including health insurance, crop insurance, and vehicle insurance.
“The availability of this essential insurance service ensures that farmers and livestock keepers can receive compensation in the event of crop losses due to natural disasters such as hailstorms, floods, fires, and other calamities,” he concluded.
This campaign not only seeks to empower farmers and livestock keepers economically but also to create a more inclusive financial environment that supports the backbone of our nation’s economy.
