Role of Agricultural Co-operatives in Provision of Extension and Agro-processing Services to Smallholder Farmers
A Case of Kahama Co-operative Union, Tanzania.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58547/8akdkx79Keywords:
Agricultural extension services, Agro-processing services, Co-operative Unions, Smallholder Farmers, TanzaniaAbstract
This study examines the role of Kahama Co-operative Union (KACU) in the provision of agricultural extension and agro-processing services to smallholder cotton and tobacco farmers in Shinyanga Region, Tanzania, during the 2019/2020 crop season, with the objective of assessing its contribution to farmer support, value addition, and the challenges limiting its performance. A qualitative case study design was adopted, with data collected through in-depth interviews with 30 purposively and randomly selected respondents and documentary review of operational and institutional reports, analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that KACU played a significant role in improving farmers’ access to advisory services, farm inputs, and production-related knowledge through extension support, while also successfully reviving cotton ginning operations through financing from the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank. The Union enhanced value addition, job creation, and farmer market access through ginning activities, thereby strengthening rural livelihoods. However, its effectiveness was constrained by inadequate financial capacity, shortage of extension personnel, inconsistent cotton supply, and weak coordination with local government extension systems. The study recommends strengthened financing of cooperative-owned agro-processing industries, increased recruitment and deployment of extension officers to cooperative unions, and enhanced policy support to improve institutional collaboration. These findings imply that strengthening cooperative governance and financial sustainability is essential for improving agricultural productivity and achieving national industrialization and agricultural transformation goals.
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