Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa Launches the Agricultural Growth Corridors of Tanzania (AGCOT)

April 27, 2025, Dodoma
 Watch the Launch–

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In a historic move to revolutionize Tanzania’s agricultural sector, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa today officially launched the Agricultural Growth Corridors of Tanzania (AGCOT), an ambitious national initiative aimed at expanding and deepening the success of the pioneering SAGCOT model across the country.

The launch event, held in Dodoma, marks a bold step toward a future where agriculture becomes the engine for economic transformation, food security, and youth and women empowerment.

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Expanding Beyond the Southern Corridor: A New Vision for Agricultural Prosperity

Speaking during the launch, Mr. Geoffrey Kirenga, CEO of the AGCOT Centre, explained to the prime minister the framework of the new corridors.

“These corridors include the Mtwara Corridor in the south-east, the Central Corridor extending to the Great Lakes region, and the Northern Corridor covering Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, and Tanga,” Kirenga explained.

He emphasized that although SAGCOT’s initial focus was in the southern highlands, agricultural development activities have already been spreading across the country.

“For example, in Ruvuma over the past two years, smallholder farmers have planted 900 hectares of avocado. We have introduced potato farming as well — and astonishingly, potatoes are doing even better here than in Njombe,” he said.

Kirenga also highlighted emerging opportunities in the Mtwara Corridor, where efforts are underway to enhance cashew nut productivity using existing trees, supported by knowledge transfers from TARI (Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute).

Beyond cashew, Mtwara and Lindi are being repositioned for large-scale horticulture. Kirenga noted:

“We are pioneering horticultural activities through partnerships involving Morogoro and Iringa, demonstrating that with proper irrigation, crops like avocado and even apples thrive remarkably in Dodoma.”

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Building Agricultural Resilience Across Ecological Zones

Hussein Bashe, the Minister for Agriculture, reinforced the strategic importance of ecological diversification.

He recalled directives issued during a meeting in Lindi in 2020, where farmers were encouraged to cultivate at least three different crops instead of depending on a single commodity.

This policy shift has already borne fruit, with crops like sesame, pigeon peas, and groundnuts gaining momentum across southern regions.

“The potential for diverse agriculture was always there,” Bashe said. “It lacked focus. Now, with AGCOT, we have that focus. The relocation of the AGCOT headquarters and key operations to Dodoma will streamline coordination and drive faster progress.”

Bashe further stressed that irrigation projects currently underway, such as in the Rupuledi Basin, will significantly boost rice production, demonstrating that agricultural transformation is not limited to cashew or traditional crops.

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Special Agricultural Processing Zones: A Strategic Boost from AfDB

Highlighting a major development, Minister Bashe announced substantial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
 He stated:

“Prime Minister, the African Development Bank is now supporting us under the newly launched project (BBT Project 1). They have allocated one million dollars to conduct a feasibility study and detailed design for the Special Agricultural Processing Zones.
 Most of these zones will be located in the Southern Corridor and will focus on horticultural crops, including avocados and vegetables.
 The funding will also be used to develop cold chain facilities, common-use facilities, and processing plants that will link directly to the Port of Dar es Salaam.

That is why you are seeing SAGCOT extending to include Dar es Salaam, because Dar is the primary exit point for agricultural products through the port.
 We will establish a dedicated facility there as a collection and export center for agricultural goods.

Currently, we face a challenge where containers of perishable produce, like avocados, are stuck behind containers carrying steel or cement.
 Therefore, we must establish a ‘Green Belt’ at the Port of Dar es Salaam to prioritize agricultural exports, so that instead of going through Mombasa, our products will be shipped directly from Dar es Salaam.
 We sincerely thank the African Development Bank for allocating one million dollars to support this important study.”

This strategic intervention will position Dar es Salaam as a major hub for Tanzania’s agricultural exports, ensuring produce like avocados, vegetables, and other high-value crops move swiftly to international markets.

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A New Era Begins

The launch of AGCOT signals a new era for Tanzania — one where sustainable agricultural growth corridors empower millions of farmers, accelerate economic development, and place Tanzania firmly on the map as a global supplier of high-quality agricultural products.

With coordinated public-private partnerships, targeted investments, and strategic innovation, AGCOT stands poised to transform the nation’s agricultural future.

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The Agricultural Growth Corridors of Tanzania (AGCOT) are Organized as Follows:

• Central Corridor: Covers the regions of Dodoma, Singida, Tabora, and the Lake Zone regions.
  
  
• Northern Corridor: Covers the Northern Highlands regions, including Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, and Tanga.
  
  
• Mtwara Corridor: Represents the South-Eastern Zone, including Lindi, Mtwara, and Ruvuma.
  
  
• SAGCOT Corridor: Covers the Southern Highlands, including Morogoro, Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya, Songwe, Rukwa, Katavi, as well as Dar es Salaam and Pwani.
  
  

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This marks a new Tanzania — a nation maximizing the productive use of its land to empower youth and women and to drive economic growth through commercially-oriented agriculture.
 AGCOT is enabling Tanzania to feed the world.

“AGCOT: Tukuze Kilimo Endelevu, Tulishe Afrika na Dunia.”