RM Agribusiness Cash Crops Specialist
About the role
The RM Agribusiness Cash Crops Specialist will be responsible for developing, managing, and growing Equity Bank Tanzania's agribusiness portfolio within selected cash crop value chains. The role will provide specialized relationship management and technical support to farmers, farmer organizations, cooperatives, aggregators, processors, off takers, input suppliers, and other value chain actors, with a particular focus on commercially viable cash crops. The role holder will identify and develop high quality agricultural financing opportunities, build sustainable agribusiness pipelines, support customer acquisition and retention, and facilitate access to appropriate banking and non financial solutions. What you will do: Develop and manage strategic relationships with cash crop farmers, farmer groups, cooperatives, aggregators, processors, off takers, exporters, input suppliers, and other value chain actors. Build and maintain a strong pipeline of quality agribusiness customers and financing opportunities within assigned cash crop value chains. Conduct customer visits, value chain assessments, farm visits, business reviews, and relationship management activities. Understand customers’ business models, cash flows, financing needs, operational challenges, and growth opportunities. Develop and execute customer acquisition and retention strategies in line with Equity Bank Tanzania’s commercial objectives. Act as the primary relationship contact for assigned agribusiness customers and coordinate resolution of customer issues with relevant internal teams. Develop deep technical and commercial understanding of priority cash crops, including production systems, seasonality, input requirements, aggregation models, pricing, markets, processing, and export dynamics. Map and analyse cash crop value chains to identify commercially viable financing opportunities and potential risks. Identify strategic anchor partners, off takers, processors, cooperatives, and ecosystem players capable of driving farmer aggregation and bankable agricultural portfolios. Facilitate linkages between farmers, input suppliers, financial institutions, processors, off takers, and markets. Support development of structured agricultural financing models tailored to specific crop cycles and value chain requirements. Monitor developments in commodity prices, weather, regulations, market access, pests and diseases, and other factors affecting assigned cash crop portfolios. Originate quality agricultural loan applications and ensure that financing proposals are commercially viable and aligned with the Bank’s credit policies. Conduct preliminary assessment of customer financial performance, repayment capacity, business models, collateral, cash flows, and agricultural production risks. Prepare high quality credit proposals and supporting documentation for consideration through the Bank’s credit approval processes. Monitor financed customers and agricultural portfolios to identify emerging risks and opportunities at an early stage. Ensure effective management of Portfolio at Risk (PAR) and proactively implement remedial actions for stressed accounts. Conduct periodic customer and farm/business reviews to validate business performance and utilization of financing. Ensure compliance with credit policies, Know Your Customer (KYC), AML, environmental and social requirements, and other applicable Bank policies and regulations. Work with Credit, Risk, Collections, Operations, Legal, and other relevant functions to resolve portfolio issues. Drive mobilization of deposits from farmers, cooperatives, agribusinesses, processors, off takers, and other value chain participants. Promote appropriate transaction banking, payments, digital banking, insurance, and other financial solutions. Identify opportunities to increase customer share and deepen relationships across the cash crop ecosystem. Support digitization of agricultural payments and promote efficient, transparent, and traceable value chain transactions. Organize and facilitate farmer and agribusiness sensitization forums on financial literacy, financial products, business management, and responsible borrowing. Support farmers and farmer organizations to strengthen record keeping, financial management, business planning, and access to markets. Deliver or coordinate training on good agricultural practices, climate smart agriculture, post harvest management, quality standards, and digital technologies where relevant. Promote adoption of practices that improve productivity, profitability, resilience, and bankability of agricultural enterprises. Provide technical guidance to customers and value chain partners on financing readiness and business growth. Identify and develop strategic partnerships with government institutions, development partners, commodity associations, NGOs, research institutions, input companies, off takers, processors, and other ecosystem players. Support development of blended finance, guarantee
Key requirements
- Minimum 3, 7 years of relevant experience in cash crops financing, agribusiness, agricultural finance, commercial banking, value chain development, relationship management, or a related field.
- Strong understanding of agronomic principles and commercial agricultural production.
- Demonstrated expertise in agribusiness management, agricultural markets, value chain development, and financial services.
- Demonstrated ability to support farmers and Ag MSMEs to develop bankable business models and access appropriate financial services.
- Strong commercial orientation and commitment to expanding financial inclusion through sustainable agriculture.
- Highly motivated, results oriented, innovative, and customer focused professional.
- University degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
- Professional qualifications in banking, finance, relationship management, project management, or agribusiness (added advantage).
- Relevant certifications in agricultural value chains, climate smart agriculture, financial inclusion, credit management, or sustainable finance (desirable).
- Commitment to Equity Bank Tanzania’s values of professionalism, Integrity, Creativity & Innovation, Teamwork, Unity of purpose, Respect, and Effective Corporate Governance (PICTURE).