Review of cooperative development in Tanzania as it relates to agriculture

After briefly comparing the agricultural situation under the two systems, this study develops a workable concept for a renewed cooperative system, analyzes needs and opportunities for cooperative education and training, and specifies preconditions to successful reestablishment of cooperatives. The authors recommend that cooperatives be organized on a voluntary and democratic basis and operate as competitive business enterprises under sound, well-trained management. A three-tier system is advised: primary societies formed on a village or multivillage basis sufficiently large for cooperative purposes; cooperative unions, one per region, to acquire, sell, and deliver needed inputs to the primary societies and to market their crops; and a national organization, controlled by a board democratically elected by the unions, to educate, support, and promote the system. Training needs could be met by the Cooperative College and Comparative Education Centre, with help from USAID/T"s Nordic project. First, however, the Tanzanian Government must improve the economic climate which at present is not favorable to cooperatives.