APCO

Pioneering Agriculture in Sudan

Established in 1969, The African Plantation Company (APCO) is Sudan’s prime leader in cash crop production, recognised for its pragmatic approach to developing and revolutionizing agriculture in Sudan.

APCO is the first and largest company of Mahgoub Sons Group (MSG). Since its establishment, APCO has expanded from 23,000 Acres to over 130,000 Acres of cultivated land across different regions in Sudan, cultivating a wide variety of food and cash crops including, but not limited to: cotton, soybean, sorghum, sesame, sunflower and watermelon seeds.

The company operates through two models, direct fully mechanised rainfed farming or contract farming of small-holder outgrowers in irrigated and rainfed schemes. On average the company has been able to increase yields 322% compared to national averages, across all crops.

The harvested crops are delivered to MSG’s different companies and factories for packing, processing and export as appropriate.

Operations

Irrigated

Gezira
Northern State
North Kordofan
White Nile
Sennar
Kassala

Rainfed

Gedaref
Blue Nile
South Kordofan

Crops & Products

Cotton Seed

Soybean Seed

Sorghum Seed

Millet Seed

Sorghum Crop

WMS Crop

Millet Crop

Soybean Crop

Acala Cotton

Acrain Cotton

Partners & Clients

Achievements & Milestones

Model Farm Samsam

APCO’s largest farm, Samsam, is a 100,000 acre fully mechanised state of the art model farm located in South East Gedaref State. the farm is the largest commercial rain-fed project in the region with a focus on cotton, soybean, sorghum and millet production. It is equipped with the latest machinery and technology, applying precision farming and zero-tillage practices in line with the group’s sustainability commitments.

Contractual Farming: Empowering the Community

As strong believers in the importance of agriculture in propelling economies, and because small-holder farmers constitute 70% of the agrarian sector, APCO was the first private sector company to adopt the contract farming model in 2011/12. The model finances small farmers by providing them with inputs (fertiliser, chemicals, seeds and fuel), cash and training. Across the 9 states in which this was applied, it had a significant impact, seeing yields jump to global highs for Cotton and Soybean crops, increased returns for small-holder farmers, facilitated transfer of knowledge to over 150,000 local farmers, all while revolutionising the shape of farming in Sudan.

Land Levelling Project

As climate change continues to affect rainfall patterns and the sector at large, APCO embarked on a 5-year land-levelling project on Samsam Farm. The project aims to reduce losses from flooding, water logging and dry patches on the farm. The three phase project at its completion will save a third of the cultivated land, allow for the introduction of a second cultivation season and reduce crop losses by 50%. This will be done by excavating higher areas, filling depressions, draining excess water and finally harvesting excess water for supplementary irrigation.

Rebirth of White Gold

MSG established itself as a pioneer in rebirthing the cotton industry in Sudan through its diversified services. Through APCO and since 2011 we have invested in the expansion of cotton cultivation, and in cotton processing through Mahgoub Sons Ginning, while through MSG Trading export services we have managed to revolutionise the cotton industry in Sudan, increasing Sudan’s productivity & export of cotton significantly. At its peak APCO produced and exported 95% of Sudan’s Cotton and averages 50-60% since.

Model Farm Samsam
Contractual Farming: Empowering the Community
Land Levelling Project
Rebirth of White Gold