WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — Residents of Rubavu District have been advised to join cooperatives in order to fight poverty within their households.

Julien Nsengiyunva, the president of Zamuka Cooperative Society gave the advice recently while meeting society members to evaluate their achievements. The cooperative is located in Mahoko trading centre.

"This cooperative society has taught me very important lessons in life that two heads are always better than one. Before its creation, many residents were independently suffering from extreme poverty but working together has greatly improved their situation,” he told The New Times shortly after the meeting.

Zamuka started operation early 2008 with 500 members. It has since expanded to 2,500 members. It helps people access quality seeds, while being able to obtain loans from banks as well as enabling its members to attract markets for their products.

"We jointly help one another to fight poverty. The cooperative’s financial management system provides an opportunity to help members who are in need. For instance access to credit before harvesting is a case in point,” he explained.

Alexis Musawudi, one of the members, testified that the cooperative society has improved his living conditions.

"I used to live in extreme poverty but ever since we formed the cooperative, things have changed. Working together has helped us increase production and saved us from exploitation from middlemen. Unlike in the past, the cooperative provides market for its members’ products,” he said.  

"The support from other cooperative members has helped me increase my production. I have through maize growing managed to buy two goats and a cow which is currently producing milk for my household. I also sell some of the milk to my neighbours, which helps me generate some income to meet my immediate needs,” he said.

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