By Habitat Media Reporter
Tabora. Financing from the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) has enabled a rice processing company in Igunga District, Tabora Region, to upgrade its operations, increase processing capacity and create more jobs, while expanding its reach into domestic and export markets.
Mboja Food Processor Company Limited, which processes and markets rice, has used financing from TADB to purchase and install modern machinery for rice processing and grading, according to the company’s director, Mr Joseph Shigela Mboja.
The investment has increased the company’s processing capacity to 60 tonnes of paddy rice per day, strengthening its ability to meet growing market demand.
Speaking during a TADB visit to its clients as part of the bank’s Customer Service Week, Mr Mboja said the financing had also enabled the company to purchase a vehicle, improving the transportation of raw materials and finished products to markets.
“The financing has enabled us to invest in processing machinery, a vehicle and working capital for purchasing raw materials. This has made it easier for us to meet market demand and deliver our products on time,” he said.
The additional working capital has been particularly important in helping the company secure adequate quantities of paddy during the season, allowing it to maintain production and respond to orders from customers.
The expansion has also translated into increased employment opportunities. Mr Mboja said the number of permanent employees had risen from 13 to 23, while the company creates about 150 temporary jobs during peak seasons.
Beyond rice processing, Mboja Food Processor also processes sunflower cooking oil and trades in a range of agricultural produce, giving farmers and other value-chain actors additional market opportunities.
Mr Mboja said the company had also expanded its market reach within Tanzania and beyond the country, supported by its increased processing capacity and improved logistics.
The development reflects the role of agricultural financing in supporting value addition, strengthening agricultural supply chains and creating employment opportunities in rural areas.
For a region such as Tabora, where agriculture is a major economic activity, investments in processing can also help farmers access more reliable markets while enabling businesses to move beyond the sale of raw agricultural commodities.
TADB has been supporting agricultural enterprises through financing aimed at improving production, processing, value addition and market access across the agricultural value chain.
Mboja’s experience illustrates how access to finance can help agribusinesses invest in equipment, working capital and logistics, allowing them to increase production and respond more effectively to market opportunities.
