Farmers, SAGCOT sign MoU, earmark transition to commercial production

By Correspondent David

Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT)

 

Well over 10,000 small-scale farmers will benefit directly from a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between them and the multi-stakeholder agency, Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) earmarking the farmers’ transition from substantial to commercial producers.


As commercial farmers, it is estimated that 420,000 new employment opportunities will be created generating USSD1.2b in annual farming revenue by 2030.

Representing the farmers are three key players in the sector, the Agriculture Council of Tanzania (ACT), Agricultural Non-State Actors Forum (ANSAF), and Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA) took place recently in Dar es Salaam.

“Their concerted efforts aim to mobilize and monitor inclusive investments in agriculture and improve policy reforms that promote and encourage growth in the agriculture sector,” SAGCOT Centre Ltd, Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Kirenga explained.

According to Kirenga, the MoU will strengthen farmers’ participation in the design and implementation of the Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania.

“The agreement is a clear symbol of the agency’s partnership approach that is vital if agricultural investments along the Southern Corridor are to be inclusive, engaging and beneficial to the farmers” he said pointing out that the actors will jointly facilitate engagement of civil society and farmers in SAGCOT initiatives.

Falling short of the specific amounts, Kirenga noted that the first phase of implementation of the agreement is funded through a grant they won from BEST-AC, a grant program established to better the private sector business environment in Tanzania.

Agriculture Council of Tanzania (ACT), Executive Director Janet Bitegeko, described the MoU as a landmark underpinning what both the farmers’ lobbyists and the stakeholder coalition have been advocating for a long time.

Underscoring that ‘working in partnership through the Tanzania Agriculture Partnership program (TAP), ACT has long championed the multi-stakeholder partnership approach in agriculture’ Executive Director Bitegeko reaffirmed that:

“ACT is ready for action to revamp agriculture in the country.”
ANSAF Executive Director Audax Rukonge and TAHA Chief Executive Director Jackie Mkindi seconded their colleagues also describing the MoU as a platform upon which smallholder farmers in the Southern parts of the country can voice the concerns and will.

“It marks the start of deeper involvement of smallholder farming communities in SAGCOT,” Rukonge said.

“This MoU will define our roles and responsibilities as partners in catalyzing actions and commitments to strengthen farmers’ involvement in agriculture value chains as business partners,” noted Mkindi.

They both shared the opinion that the most viable way to sustainably address the numerous challenges faced by farmers is through transformational partnerships into commercial productivity.

Launched in 2010, SAGCOT is a multi-stakeholder partnership that seeks to transform the agriculture sector in the country by building inclusive agribusinesses in the country’s southern regions.

Its innovative model brings together various partners including food companies, processors, service providers and farmers’ associations to develop viable agricultural value chains and enhance the profitability of farmers, especially the small-scale farmers.

Agricultural Council of Tanzania (ACT) is the agricultural private sector apex organization in Tanzania. It is a membership organisation representing a wide spectrum of actors in the Tanzanian agricultural sector.

Members include groups and associations of farmers (crops, livestock and fish producers), suppliers, processors, transporters, researchers and other stakeholders dealing in agribusiness.  

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN