MICU enhancing the members' business

MICU Ltd. is a cooperative union, in the South West of Tanzania, with its office in Mbeya. MICU is formed by 12 affiliated AMCOS (Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies = primary coops). It mainly facilitate collection and marketing of coffee for its members, besides rental of buildings, farm input supply and marketing activities. It has 7 elected board members, all from the affiliated AMCOS. The board is supported by the General Manager with his staff of an accountant, assistant accountant, secretary and driver. Internal auditor and procurement officer are vacant. MICU is the result of several (governmental orchestrated) merges and separation of unions in the southern highlands of Tanzania in the past 30 years. It renewed its registration in February 2015. MICU wants to revive its relationship with the cooperative members and provide more market access to them. MICU is aware that its members are producing several marketable crops besides coffee but that they lost confidence in their union over the years, hence widespread side-selling. MICU's goal is to improve the communication and service provision to members, ultimately for regaining trust, increasing the crop volumes channelled via the union and increasing the benefits for the farmers. A company assessment was performed in June 2015. A collaboration with Agriterra is expected.