Airtel Money Tanzania has announced a new partnership with the Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission (TCDC) aimed at expanding access to digital financial services for thousands of farmers across the country. The initiative, which follows a successful pilot project in Morogoro, is designed to integrate smallholder farmers into the formal financial system and provide them with the tools needed to manage and grow their businesses.
In a statement shared on LinkedIn on Wednesday, Airtel Money said the partnership with TCDC will allow farmers to receive payments directly through mobile money platforms, reducing the risks and inefficiencies associated with cash-based transactions. In addition to mobile payments, the initiative will support access to affordable smartphones, making it easier for farmers to take advantage of digital services.
As part of the new partnership, income-based credit packages will be developed to help farmers improve their farming operations and invest in better inputs. Airtel Money and TCDC also plan to deliver financial education programs that will equip farmers with essential money management skills.
“Together, we are ensuring that farmers are included in the formal financial system as we support their growth and security,” Airtel Money said in the post.
Officials say the initiative targets underserved rural communities, where access to traditional banking services is often limited. With mobile phones increasingly available, Airtel Money’s digital platform is seen as a tool for promoting financial inclusion in line with the government’s wider development goals.
The announcement comes after a pilot program in Morogoro, where Airtel Money partnered with selected Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOS) to disburse payments digitally for agricultural inputs. According to Airtel, the pilot phase showed significant improvements in efficiency, transparency, and access to financial tools, particularly for smallholder farmers who typically rely on cooperatives to access markets and inputs.
The pilot project also helped reduce the costs and risks associated with middlemen and delayed payments, issues that have historically limited farmers’ productivity and income security.
Industry observers say that such collaborations between telecom companies and government agencies are crucial in closing the digital divide and improving access to financial services in remote areas. With more farmers now owning mobile phones, the expansion of mobile-based services like Airtel Money is expected to play a major role in reshaping the agriculture sector in Tanzania.
The Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission (TCDC), a government body under the Ministry of Agriculture, has been working to modernise the country’s cooperative system and link rural producers with formal economic structures. Through this partnership with Airtel Money, TCDC will be able to digitise financial flows, improve recordkeeping, and enhance the overall efficiency of agricultural cooperatives.
Mr. Felix Manoni, an agriculture finance expert based in Dar es Salaam, described the development as a “strong step forward” in building an inclusive agricultural economy. “Access to timely credit and reliable payments are the biggest game changers for smallholder farmers,” he said.
He added that by reducing farmers’ reliance on physical cash and introducing them to digital savings, credit, and insurance, initiatives like this one can reduce vulnerability to shocks and increase long-term productivity.
For now, Airtel Money and TCDC say they will continue to scale the initiative to other regions, with a focus on building sustainable digital ecosystems that support agribusiness growth and youth involvement in agriculture.
The partnership highlights Airtel Money’s commitment to supporting digital transformation and financial inclusion in Tanzania’s rural economy, while reinforcing the role of mobile money in promoting economic empowerment at the grassroots level.
