1. The Importance and Role of Effective Farmer Cooperatives -The CAMAP Experience A presentation at a workshop on Integrated system for an Effective Cassava production in Africa. IITA, Ibadan October, Abu Umaru Joseph

2. Outline
Introduction
CAMAP Model
The experiences in CAMAP
Way forward

3. Introduction
A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
By and large, cooperatives (except a few large ones) are “local institutions”, addressing “local needs”, employing “local talent”, and led by “local leaders”

4. CAMAP Model and Experience
Identification of farmer groups- In line with selection criteria
Agreements signed-
AATF and cooperative groups
Processor and cooperative groups
Transport company, AATF and farmer groups
Partnership with governments and Donor agencies or projects to support cooperatives

5. CAMAP Model and Experience
The farmer cluster ideology – at least 50 ha per cluster with minimum of 20 ha continuous land make mechanisation accessible and tenable
In Osun and Kwara, CAMAP is working with FADAMA II where farmers are organised into groups and these farmers already have access to complimentary training in other crop value chains
In Ogun, CAMAP is working with organised farmer groups, IFAD VCPD, Mokk Investment and Fortis Micro Finance Bank is now financing mechanisation.

6. CAMAP Model and Experience
S/ N
STATE
CLUSTER
PARTNERS
TOTA L
(Ha)
PLOUGHED
HARROWE D
PLANTED
SPRAYE D
PAYMENT
(%) 1
OGUN
Otete
(Ayetoro)
IFAD 30 25 2
Apata 50 45 32 20 3
Isa Ope 28 14 5
Ikenne
(CRV)
State Govt 56 21 6
Alapako 39 9
Oke Odan
MOKK INV.
126
124 17 8 10
OSUN
Iwo
KABIYESI 27 12 70 11
Chief Solomon Oyerinde

7. CAMAP Model and Experience
Farmers joining CAMAP are selected by committee members based on a clear selection criteria - they know who is serious, who can default – group accountability
Competition within the organised farmers groups promotes good farming practices as farmers compare performance of the crops across members
Strong farmer groups remain a very viable option for a sustainable adoption of agriculture technologies and opportunities by African farmers.

8. CAMAP – Our takeaways
Agriculture remains the most strategic engine for the economic growth in Nigeria
Working with farmer groups is the most effective way to influence change of attitude in farming – mechanisation
Cooperatives have inherent advantages in tackling the problems of poverty alleviation, food security and employment generation.
Organised groups have immense potential to deliver goods and services in areas where both the public and private sector have failed
There is need to register these organised groups into cooperatives to ensure that they can access credit and they gain recognition

9. The Challenges of Effective Farmer Cooperatives
Inadequate financing
Mismanagement of resources by the management committee (board of directors)
Unqualified/inexperienced management committee
Uncommitted membership
Lack of clear policy guideline on cooperatives
Government attitudes towards cooperatives development
Lack of infrastructural facilities like regular and stable electricity, accessible roads, pipe-borne water etc

10. Need to register the farmers groups into recognized cooperatives
Way Forward
Capacity building in management of shared resources (equipment, inputs), leadership and farming as a business is needed
Technical expertise on the right cooperative sizes, right crop value chains and economical land sizes for mechanisation
Need to register the farmers groups into recognized cooperatives

11. THANK YOU