1. “Growing Cooperatives Globally - Cooperative contributions to international development” Capetown, 31th of October Growing cooperatives - The gender factor Justine Akpoué Akouélé, Member of the Board of UNCUMA Benin

2. LET’S FARM OUR LAND TOGETHER LITTLE AUTONOMOUS GROUPS to ease or improve conditions of production and increase the farm’s productivity COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT AND JOINT USE Of machinery, building, workers for tasks directly linked to production cycles SERVICE CO-OPERATIVES IN AGRICULTURE Set up by and for farmers CUMA are…

3. Cuma in France  11545 Cuma in France  4600 employees (drivers, mechanics,…)  around 20 farmers / Cuma  av. turn-over : 45 000 € 40% of french farms are involved in a Cuma

4. Cuma in Benin Partnership with french network of Cuma (Aquitaine) for 18 years. 150 CUMA Goal n°1 of the shared mechanization :  sowed area before rainy season Shared mechanization : tractors, tools for soil preparation, trailer, processing equipment 150 CUMA Goal n°1 of the shared mechanization :  sowed area before rainy season Shared mechanization : tractors, tools for soil preparation, trailer, processing equipment NATIONAL UNION OF BENINESE CUMA Staff :1 coordonnator NATIONAL UNION OF BENINESE CUMA Staff :1 coordonnator Regional Union of CUMA Borgou-Alibori Staff : 2 advisors, 3 mechanics Regional Union of CUMA Borgou-Alibori Staff : 2 advisors, 3 mechanics Regional Union of CUMA Mono-Couffo Staff : 1 advisor, 1 mechanic Regional Union of CUMA Mono-Couffo Staff : 1 advisor, 1 mechanic Boards of the federations : farmers in Cuma

5. A woman’s voice in the Beninese Cuma movement : Justine Akpoué Akouélé Cuma Elobé : a Cuma with women as members, created in 2008, after a visit of Justine Akouélé in France Impact : 1 ha  12 ha cultivated in Justine’s farm (crops : rice, vegetables, fish farming), income  Local dissemination : considering this success, 6 other Cuma of women have been created in this area Women take the control of the decision making and the organization of the shared mechanization (Justine drives the tractor of the Cuma). Involvement as board’s member in the Regional Federation, then in National Union of Cuma A path to empowerment : lobbying actions for a better adaptation of State decisions to farmer’s needs.