Welcome to the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT)—a pioneering public-private partnership that has reshaped Tanzania’s agricultural landscape since 2010. Launched under the Kilimo Kwanza(Agriculture First) vision, SAGCOT has driven significant agricultural investments and improved the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers. Its success in the Southern Highlands laid the foundation for a broader nationwide initiative: the Agricultural Growth Corridors of Tanzania (AGCOT).
🚀 From Vision to Model: The SAGCOT Journey
SAGCOT was unveiled in 2011 by H.E. President Jakaya Kikwete at the World Economic Forum in Davos and launched nationally by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda in Dar es Salaam. At its heart was the Investment Blueprint (IBP)—a strategic plan identifying development opportunities across the corridor.
To coordinate implementation, the SAGCOT Centre Limited (SCL) was established, bringing together government, private sector, development partners, civil society, and farmers.
By 2023, the SAGCOT Corridor accounted for over 65% of Tanzania’s food production, affirming the success of the model. Responding to demand for national expansion, H.E. President Samia Suluhu Hassan directed the rollout of the SAGCOT model nationwide in March 2023. This transition was formalized with the launch of AGCOT on April 27–28, 2025, in Dodoma.
📊 SAGCOT Achievements: 2010–2024
🔹 Total Investment Mobilized:
USD 6.34 billion in cumulative investment—111% of the target, achieved five years ahead of schedule.
- Public Sector: USD 5.02 billion (79.2%)—invested in infrastructure such as roads, energy (e.g., REA, Kidatu–Ifakara Road), and rural electrification.
- Private Sector: USD 1.32 billion (20.8%)—focused on agribusiness, processing, and input supply.
🔹 Farmer Empowerment:
Over 1 million smallholder farmers reached through training, input support, and market linkages.
- Farmer revenue 2019–2024: USD 606 million
- FY2024 alone: USD 255.28 million (18% above target)
🔹 Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA):
- 1.3 million hectares under CSA practices
- High uptake of the Inclusive Green Growth Tool: 87% awareness, 88% application
🔹 Jobs Created:
Over 253,000 jobs generated within the corridor
🔹 Strategic Partnerships:
30 active partnerships in FY2024 involving private firms, government, and development partners.
- 100% partner satisfaction in reported collaborations.
🧩 The SAGCOT Model: A Blueprint for Transformation
Key Components:
- Clusters: Geographic concentrations driving innovation and coordination across value chains
- Value Chain Partnerships: Linking farmers, suppliers, processors, and financiers
- Thematic Partnerships: Focused on climate change, finance, youth, and innovation
- Compact Agreements: Formal commitments for action and investment, including Commodity Compacts for key crops
Strategic Pillars:
- Partnership Facilitation: Aligning key actors and resolving bottlenecks across value chains
- Policy Advocacy: Influencing reforms to enable investment and agribusiness growth
- Promotion of Climate-Smart Food Systems: Encouraging sustainable practices such as soil health, agroforestry, and water conservation
The SAGCOT model is farmer-led and investment-driven, delivering inclusive and sustainable impact.
💡 Stories of Transformation
📍 Igoma Potato Farmers:
Market prices rose from TZS 30,000 to TZS 36,000 per 100kg. Farmers accessed TZS 484 million in loans.
📍 Njombe Milk Factory:
Processes 7,000 liters daily, providing reliable markets for dairy farmers.
📍 Tamu Tamu Tanzania (Iringa):
Pioneered organic apple and strawberry farming, sparking an Apple Revolution in East Africa.
📍 GBRI & EatFresh:
A women-led agribusiness brand supplying fresh produce nationwide with a focus on quality and nutrition.
📍 Rice Transformation in Mbarali:
Yields increased from 2.1 to 10 tonnes/ha through the System of Rice Intensification (SRI).
📍 Avocado Boom in Njombe:
Established as Tanzania’s avocado hub, creating youth jobs and export revenue.
📍 Agroforestry for Climate Resilience:
Tree-spice agroforestry scaled in Morogoro, Tanga, and Zanzibar; CSA practices integrated into rice, maize, and horticulture farming.
🛤️ Scaling the Model Nationwide: SAGCOT to AGCOT
SAGCOT’s success now powers the national rollout under AGCOT, designated as Flagship 7 of Tanzania’s Agriculture Master Plan 2050 (AMP 2050).
Expansion focuses include:
- Northern, Central, and Mtwara Corridors
- Corridor-specific teams and investment strategies
- Greenprints and Commodity Compacts to guide localized action
🌍 AGCOT: Tanzania’s Next Agricultural Leap
AGCOT builds on the legacy of SAGCOT—scaling results, expanding impact, and unlocking Tanzania’s full agricultural potential.