Co-operative Policy Reforms and the Development of Marketing Co-operatives in Tanzania in the 1990's

Abstract

In Tanzania co-operatives are of paramount importance to smallholder farmers in articulating farmer's demand and facilitating collective actions in overcoming problems in agricultural and capital markets. In response to the poor performance of agricultural markets in the country, marketing reforms have been implemented through reforming grain marketing and institutional set-up as part of broader macro-economic changes beginning in 1984. These reforms have affected the functioning of marketing co-operatives and have opened room for private sector activity in the markets. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of co-operative policy reform on the development of farmer marketing organizations in Tanzania following the 1990s institutional reforms.