• Initiative targets 4x yield, 40% income rise for farmers
• Project boosts credit access, aims to cut soybean imports

PASS Trust, a private agricultural development institution in Tanzania, signed a $4.8 million funding agreement with the Norwegian Embassy on Thursday.

According to a joint statement, the funds will be used to implement a three-year project aimed at boosting the productivity and competitiveness of the country’s soybean value chain from 2025 to 2028.

The financing structure combines a $2.4 million Norwegian grant with a matching guarantee from PASS Trust. This guarantee will help small-scale farmers access commercial credit, a group often excluded by banks because they’re seen as high-risk.

The mixed funding arrangement will allow local financial institutions to extend credit to these smallholders, the statement noted. PASS Trust CEO Yohane Kaduma said the project aims to quadruple soybean yields to 3 metric tons per hectare and raise farmers’ incomes by at least 40 percent.

The initiative will first roll out in the Ruvuma region before expanding to Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya, Songwe, and Rukwa.

"We’re not just providing access to inputs and credit. We’re building complete financial inclusion—input financing, equipment leasing through PASS Leasing, working capital, and post-harvest financing. We’re creating an ecosystem where farmers can thrive," Kaduma said.

The key challenge for the sector is to boost local production and cut Tanzania’s reliance on imports. Local demand for the oilseed is estimated at over 150,000 tons annually. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture shows average annual production was nearly 29,000 tons between 2019 and 2023, with a peak of 48,531 tons recorded in 2023.

Stéphanas Assocle