- Published by
- Gatsby Africa
This report discusses Gatsby Africa's Tanzania Cotton Sector Development Programme which ran from 2007 to 2022.
The initiative aimed to transform Tanzania's cotton sector through systemic interventions, including contract farming, improved seed and research systems, and rural agro-dealer networks.
While some benefits were achieved, such as higher yields and a sustainable agro-dealer network, broader sector transformation proved elusive due to political and structural challenges.
Key lessons emphasise the importance of political alignment, scalable investment models, and adaptability in addressing entrenched systemic issues. Despite the setbacks, insights from the programme are of value for similar initiatives.