News

Maize, cows and transformative growth

The sensational feeling during the visit to COAMANYA in harvest season

Stepping onto the fields of COAMANYA cooperative during the harvesting season is an immersive experience that reflects the essence of hard work, determination, and community spirit. The sight of farmers in COAMANYA carefully gathering cobs of maize, tenderly placing them within their collective facility brings happiness not only because of the harvest; but also it is an emotional feeling.

Rice-shrimps farming: a nature-based solution in Mekong River Delta

Written by Phuc le Dac, Cooperative advisor Vietnam

In this mid-October, the Agriterra team in Vietnam had the opportunity to visit the Chau Hung Rice-Shrimp Cooperative located in the Chau Thanh district of Tra Vinh province. During this visit, they were impressed by the innovative and sustainable farming practices employed by the local farmers. This is considered a wonderful nature-based farming for rice and shrimps.

PRESS RELEASE

The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs pledges support for a Systematic Approach to Graduating the Cooperative Landscapes

Utrecht, Netherlands – 19th of December 2023  The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged EUR 8 million to AgriGRADE, an innovative approach to graduate the cooperative agricultural sector in emerging economies. The AgriGRADE concept, developed by SCOPEinsight, Agriterra, IDH, Oikocredit, and IDH Farmfit Fund, is a systematic and data-driven way of working that integrates proven concepts and tried and tested tools and services of the different organizations. The ultimate goal of the approach is to make cooperatives and farmer organizations in emerging markets more attractive for farmers, off-takers and investors. 

How TRUST BANK empowered tea farmers in Tanzania

Written by Ibrahimu Harry Mwankanye, Cooperative advisor Tanzania

RSTGA SACCO was established in 2008, thanks to the efforts of Rungwe Smallholders Tea Development Trust Fund that operates under the Association. This is the agent for the development of tea growing in the region. Before the SACCO was formalised, the development trust fund facilitated farmers in establishing savings and credit groups. After having facilitated these groups for 3 years, several farmers reached the stage that required a more professional organisation to serve the financial needs of tea growers in Rungwe. Currently RSTGA SACCO has 2,133 members.

Exploring opportunities in Tanzania

In August, Agripooler Yvonne Robben visited the Kilimanjaro Dairy Cooperatives Joint Enterprise Limited (KDCJE) in Tanzania to share her knowledge. The 1,800-member union was running into problems with effectiveness. Thanks to the workshop, KDCJE was given a hand to improve its business case. 

ECAKOOG, a cooperative development model

Written by Liliane Tokoré, Cooperative advisor Ivory Coast

ECAKOOG is a cocoa cooperative in Ivory Coast that has been able to develop itself step by step through its professionalism and its in-house skills, but even more through its capacity to implement capacity-building initiatives from partners like Agriterra.

Important improvements at RACO in Vietnam

Rach Lop cooperative (RACO) is located in Tan Hung commune, Tieu Can district, Tra Vinh province in Vietnam. The cooperative was established in 2016 and currently has 514 members with rice as main commodity. RACO provides a wide range of services such as input supply, technology dissemination, trainings, irrigation services and soil preparation.

Changing experiences via Agripool

Ankie Wijnen and Cecile Snijders, who live in the same village in Brabant, the Netherlands, have a lot in common. Their commitment to the Agripool, for example, for which they share their knowledge and experience in developing countries.