News

Establishment of working capital at Bitacha Multipurpose Primary Cooperative

Written by Dita Beshada, Junior Cooperative Advisor Ethiopia

Bitacha Multipurpose Primary Cooperative is located at Kofele woreda, in the southern part of Ethiopia. The cooperative is a member of Raya Kejewa union. Established in 2013 as Bitacha Multipurpose Primary Cooperative, it initially had 70 members and 3500 share capital.In 2024, Bitacha PC has grown to 710 members, of which 202 are female and 120 youth. Currently, the cooperative has a general manager and an extension officer who have both been hired through a co-financing by the Agriterra Acting Now project, and one security guard. Members of the PC primarily produce malt barley rotated with potatoes. Additionally, they grow vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, and beetroots.

How 'World of Coffee' benefits Congolese cooperatives

Written by Merveille Kakule Saliboko, Agriterra communications consultant in DR Congo

From June 27 to 29, 2024, the World of Coffee was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. World of Coffee is the world's largest coffee industry trade fair. Two delegates from Congolese cooperatives supported by Agriterra were present. One of the two participants, Gilbert Makelele, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cooperative society of innovative coffee growers in Kivu, SCPNCK, looks back on the “achievements” of this trip.

Agriterra supports Limuru Dairy to launch long-lasting dairy products

Written by Diana Macharia, Cooperative Advisor Kenya

In September 2020, Agriterra started a transformative journey with the Limuru Dairy Cooperative in Kenya, which has 11,000 dedicated dairy farmers as members. Producing over 30,000 liters of milk daily, Limuru Dairy aimed to add value to its raw milk by producing Extended Shelf Life (ESL) products. However, they faced challenges in accessing financing.

Empowering farmers

Written by Frederick Sarkodie, Cooperative Advisor Ghana

Training of Trainers in Agroecology for Asetenapa Cocoa Farmers Cooperative

From the 2nd-4th of July 2024, Asetenapa Cocoa Farmers Cooperative in Suhum, Ghana, took a big step towards a more sustainable future. Twenty-six Farmers, both men and women participated in a Training of Trainers (TOT) training in Agroecology by Agriterra. The training's main objective was to introduce the cooperative to the concept of agroecology and expand their knowledge in preventing and controlling pests and diseases through bio-solutions.

The impact of the PADANE Project on Gloriose and her community

Since 2021, Agriterra is a major partner of SNV in the PADANE Project in Burundi. The project, which aims to improve the living conditions of agricultural households, women, young people, and market actors through increased incomes, job creation for youth and women, food and nutritional security, and resilience to climate change, is set to end in December 2024. 

Dutch agricultural expertise makes a difference!

Rien Geuze, a former Agriterra employee, returned to Kenya after ten years to visit the projects he had set up there between 2011 and 2014. He was positively surprised by the many changes he saw, such as factories that had been built, the huge development of marketing and the impact of the exchange visits between the Netherlands and Kenya.  

Agriterra supported cooperative for better ergonomics

Written by Dawit Hailegiorgis, Cooperative Advisor 

Oromia Agricultural Cooperatives Federation (OACF) was established in May 2009 in Addis Ababa, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Initially founded by 40 cooperative unions, with a starting capital of 18.3 million, 1698 primary cooperatives, and 1,158,358 individual members. 

Youth-driven transformation in the coffee cooperative

Abakundakawa Rushashi, a registered coffee cooperative in northern Rwanda since 2004, produces high-altitude coffee in the hills of the Gakenke district.  The Ishema Youth Coffee Group, part of the cooperative, started in 2018 with 233 members and has now grown to over 400 young members.