AS the 31st Nane Nane International Agricultural Exhibition kicks off today countrywide, the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) has outlined ambitious plans to extend its successful model to new agricultural corridors nationwide.

Geoffrey Kirenga, SAGCOT Centre CEO unveiled this here yesterday when speaking on the centre’s milestone over the past ten years.

"This is a very special year for SAGCOT and its partners as it marks the year that SAGCOT is embarking towards taking its work beyond the SAGCOT area to the rest of the country and shall be known as the Agricultural Growth Corridors of Tanzania (AGCOT)," Kirenga stated. 

The CEO also underscored SAGCOT's achievements in facilitating over $ 1.32 billion (3.3trn/-) in private-sector investments and the government's commitment to investing in infrastructure to support the agricultural value chain. 

An ongoing public expenditure review of the SAGCOT Corridor reveals significant government and public sector investments totalling 13.9trn/- over the past ten years, encompassing agriculture, roads, infrastructure, and energy. 

Kirenga's statement comes as Tanzania prepares to welcome over 500 exhibitors from around the world to the Nane Nane exhibition, which opens on August 1st. 

The event will showcase cutting-edge technologies, foster valuable partnerships, and attract international attention to the immense potential of Tanzanian agriculture.

 "Tanzania's agriculture is on the cusp of a remarkable transformation, poised to become a leading global player capable of feeding Africa and the world," Kirenga remarked. 

"This presents a tremendous opportunity for millions of Tanzanian youths to earn respectable incomes and improve their lives." 

Since its inception at Nane Nane, SAGCOT will be at the forefront, showcasing its commitment to facilitating public-private partnerships through comprehensive end-to-end value chain solutions that increase productivity and enhance the quality of Tanzanian produce. 

SAGCOT's initiatives address the diverse challenges the agricultural community faces and provide innovative solutions that drive productivity and sustainability. 

For example, SAGCOT's work with potato farmers has transformed the lives of thousands of smallholder farmers and the local economy in potato-producing areas by introducing improved potato varieties and better farming practices, significantly increasing yields and quality and allowing farmers to access larger markets and secure higher incomes. 

This has led to increased investment in potato value addition through sorting grading and producing potato chips and crisps. SAGCOT's collaboration with the government and the private sector, particularly smallholders, has made the SAGCOT area a prime location for agricultural investment. Significant transformations are also happening in other value chains, such as avocado, spices, apples, cocoa, sunflower, soybeans, poultry, and dairy.

 As SAGCOT expands into the Northern, Mtwara, and Central Corridors, it will continue to build upon its achievements in the SAGCOT area. SAGCOT's presence at Nane Nane 2024 will highlight its comprehensive end-to-end value chain solutions, collaborative work with communities, and commitment to enhancing food security and agricultural productivity across Tanzania.