Sagcot launches third cluster in Morogoro

Morogoro. The Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor for Tanzania (SAGCOT) has launched the third cluster namely Kilombero, which will cover the entire Morogoro Region.

The launch of the third cluster will enable the increase of investments related to agriculture in the region which is among the top food baskets.

Speaking during the launch of the cluster over the weekend, the minister for Agriculture, Mr Japhet Hasunga, said the government will continue to create conducive environment, which will attract more investors in the agricultural sector.

“We will ensure that the sector plays a pivotal role in Tanzania’s industrialisation drive,” the minister said, noting that the growth and development of agriculture would stimulate growth of other sectors of economy.

Mr Hasunga said the overall goal of the cluster was to transform the sector through attracting both small and large scale farmers for commercial farming.

Other Sagcot clusters include the Ihemi Cluster covering Iringa and Njombe regions and Mbalali cluster which covers Mbeya and Songwe regions.

The Kilombero Cluster launch event was also attended by two deputy ministers namely Innocent Bashungwa and Omari Mgumba as well as regional commissioners for Mbeya, Iringa and Morogoro.

The Iringa Regional Commissioner, Mr Ali Hapi, and his Mbeya counterpart, Mr Albert Chalamila, spent some time detailing how Sagcot has helped to attract investments.

According to the Sagcot centre chief executive officer Geoffrey Kirenga, at least $500 million has been invested in the Sagcot area since the project started.

“The goal is to have a total of $3.5 billion invested into the area until 2030,” he said.