A few years ago, Small holder farmers in Muko sector, Musanze District started working in cooperatives. Within the short time, the farmers have started reaping big.

During a field visit last week, some farmers shared their success stories, which they attribute to working in cooperatives.

With the support from Faith victory Association and Action Aid Rwanda, former vulnerable women smallholder farmers through the Improved Food Security project called IFS Muko, farmers were incorporated in different cooperatives and savings groups.

Farmers in the sector said cooperatives helped them improve their food security, among other achievements but most notably, a maize milling factory was set up in February.

The factory is run by Imboni z’iterambere, an umbrella cooperative that brings together 50 other unions and cooperatives of former vulnerable women and some men.

Among the 50 unions, 31 are registered as cooperatives under Rwanda Cooperatives Agency while others are in the process of registrating.

The two organisations injected Rwf35 million to construct this factory that produces 1.2 tonnes of maize flour every day, according to Ruth Nyiraharerimana, who is in charge of marketing at the factory.

"We were different groups that worked separately. Others worked individually and we could hardly get enough to feed our families. Then we decided to form a cooperative and work together. We now have two milling machines, a stock and a cooling room. We are gradually getting market for our produce,” she said.

According to her, the cooperative has so far earned a profit of Rwf3.2 million from the factory.

The cooperatives grow potatoes and maize in particular whose harvest is taken to the factory.

They also have established saving groups known as "Ibimina”. This, they said, has helped them overcome poverty, construct houses, pay Mutuelle de Santé for their families, among other benefits.

These farmers argued that cooperatives not only provide financial solutions but also foster good relations with families.

Hilaria Mujawamungu, the president of Hugukirwa Muko, one of the cooperatives said, "We were always in conflict with our spouses because we depended on them for everything. Now, we can also provide for ourselves and we are working together with our spouses to develop our households.

Veneranda Nyirabapagasi, a member of this cooperative said she lived a miserable life before joining it. She says she had feared to join because she thought she would not afford the contribution.

Nyirabapagasi who is a widow, said she now provides basic needs for her children with no difficulty like paying school fees, among other achievements..

"I also bought a plot of land, pigs and I’m very optimistic that there are more benefits to come,” she said.

Sosthene Nizeyimana, president of Twite ku bana bacu Muko, another cooperative, hailed the concept of working together.

"We could not educate our children before because of either lack of means or poor mind set. But through this cooperative, we have increased our financial muscle through sharing dividends from our savings. We give money to our members who have urgent problems to solve as well.

Michel Ndayambaje, Action Aid social right programme manager, highlighted that provision of support and involving beneficiaries in the project implementation was central to what has been achieved.

"We provide support; train them on savings culture and better agriculture practices and leave the implementation to them. Afterwards, we follow them up and work closely with grassroots leaders so as to sustain the achievements,” he said.

Ndayambaje added that the organisation is helping farmers to get the right certification from the standards body so as to be able to export their products.

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