Abstract:
Co-operative movements are seen by proponents to have contributed to the reduction of income
in developing countries. Critics, however, see co-operatives to help their members are still less
cemented. Subsequently, cooperative efforts to alleviate poverty among farmers arc sometimes
perceived to be not effective. There is also a concern that co-operatives to help their members
should work towards vertical and horizontal integration to be more effective. This study
examined if integrated co-cooperative is a practical model in Tanzania. The study also assessed
how the integrated cooperative operates in Tanzania. Accordingly, the study identified
perceived benefits and challenges experienced by cooperative members in the study area. The
study was conducted in Mbinga District and Moshi Rural Districts. A total of 228 respondents
were interviewed (single cooperative members 113, multiple cooperative members 53, and non
cooperative members 62). Data were analysed descriptively using IBM Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS). In the study it was found that small scale farmers in Tanzania have
opted for horizontal integration in the form of multiple memberships that is being a member
of an Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Society and a Savings and Credit Cooperative
Society as a strategy for improving livelihood. This form of integration therefore generates
future implications for the growing co-operative movement in Tanzania. Members
involved in the integrated model were found to have relatively generated more wealth and had
the comparative advantage of accessing various services provided in their communities. This reflects the importance of the existing integrated model, which has been formed by members
themselves. This study therefore recommends integrated co-operative model to be sensitized
and formally implemented in Tanzania so that cooperative members may end up experiencing
unity of effort
