“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

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, workersfor tasks directly linked to production cycles

SERVICE CO-OPERATIVES IN AGRICULTURE Set up by and for farmers

CUMA are…

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

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

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.