SAGCOT & Canaan Global Centre Forge Strategic Partnership for Cocoa, Soya Value Addition

Prof. Jangsaen Kim, Director of the Canaan Global Centre in South Korea (centre, in a tie), and Dr. Rozalia Rwegasira, Assistant Regional Administrative Secretary (second left), meet on July 3rd, 2024, at the Sagcot Centre—Kilombero office to discuss cocoa and soya value addition in the SAGCOT region. The others are (from left) Adam Ndatulu, Cluster & Partnerships Specialist Kilombero; second from right, Peter Gama, Agricureyarl officer Morogoro RS; and far right, Gadiel Mawa – Kilombero Cluster Support officer.

Enhancing Cocoa and Soya Value Chains: Pioneering Collaboration Between South Korea’s Canaan Global Centre and Tanzania’s SAGCOT

On July 3rd, 2024, Prof. Jangsaen Kim, Director of the Canaan Global Centre (GCC) in South Korea, and Dr. Rozalia Rwegasira, Assistant Regional Administrative Secretary, convened at the SAGCOT Centre in Kilombero, Morogoro town, to strategise on advancing value addition for cocoa and soya within the SAGCOT region.

Present at the meeting included John Banga, Kilombero SAGCOT Centre Manager; Adam Ndatulu, Kilombero Cluster & Partnerships Specialist; Peter Gama, Morogoro Agricultural Officer; and Gadiel Mawa, Kilombero Cluster Support Officer. The meeting focused on innovative methods to enhance cocoa and soya value chains, highlighting these crops’ significant economic and environmental advantages.

The Canaan Global Centre’s recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the SAGCOT Centre, formalised in June 2024, aims to bolster soya and cocoa production in the Kilombero and Mvomero Districts. This partnership plans to extend to additional clusters, underscoring a commitment to value addition and sustainable agricultural practices. Central to this collaboration is establishing a processing and distribution centre in the Morogoro region, strategically chosen for its logistical benefits in marketing products nationwide.

John Banga underscored the importance of cocoa and soya beans as high-value crops with immense economic growth and sustainability potential. Cocoa, a vital ingredient in chocolate production, has a burgeoning global market, while cocoa butter is renowned for its use in the cosmetics industry due to its hydrating properties.

Prof. Kim expressed enthusiasm about sharing South Korea’s advanced technology and expertise in value addition for both crops through the Canaan Global Centre. He announced plans to facilitate the setup of a processing factory in Morogoro, exemplifying a hands-on approach to this international partnership.

Soya beans, celebrated for their versatility, are integral to producing soy milk, tofu, soy sauce, and other food products, making them a global dietary staple. Additionally, soya beans are crucial in animal feed production and are processed into soybean oil, a widely used cooking oil. Their high protein content makes soya beans indispensable for addressing food security and nutritional needs.

The collaboration aims to significantly enhance farmers’ incomes and promote environmental sustainability in the SAGCOT areas by focusing on these lucrative value chains. The Canaan Global Centre and SAGCOT Centre partnership is poised to spur economic growth, uplift livelihoods, and champion sustainable agricultural practices.

The SAGCOT initiative, now transforming into the broader Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (AGCOT), is expanding its impact and inclusivity, further catalysing regional agricultural development and economic opportunities.