Fruits4Development - Developing a cooperative fruit trade company Mosoriot is a young start-up cooperative. The last two years promising steps were taken in bringing together farmers and increasing the production and marketing of mainly passion fruit in the Kesorai division. A good start has been made to structure the finance and administration of Mosoriot, and punctually administer transactions. However the administration is not digitalized, which is one of the next steps in professionalization. 

The biggest point for attention is organizing the marketing and sales process of Mosoriot. The unique selling point of Mosoriot, and biggest found reason why farmers joined the cooperative, is that Mosoriot facilitates in the collection and marketing of members produce to guarantee better prices. Individual farmers are not in the position to achieve this. The current marketing and sales process is evolved by doing, but needs more structure and professionalization. Importantly, the marketing of produce should not be dependent on the bulk purchase of one single buyer(s).

With the assistance of SNV Kenya and Agriterra Mosoriot aims to professionalize the cooperative by (1) developing the organisation structure, (2) digitalizing the financial administration, (3) assisting current members in expanding production of horticultural produce and binding new member to the cooperative and last but not least by (5) organizing/structuring the marketing and sales process.

In May 2012 a company assessment was conducted of Mosoriot Horticulture Cooperative. Mosoriot is a cooperative society established in 2011. Since its incorporation, the amount of new members and the volume of passion fruit marketed by Mosoriot has grown rapidly. The most important reason for farmers to become a member of Mosoriot is that, the cooperative facilitates in the collection and marketing of members produce, in order to get better prices in the market, compared to limited market access for individual farmers. For this facilitation members pay upon registration a membership fee, and a tariff for each kilogram marketed through the cooperative.

The company assessment has led to a detailed action plan which can help Mosoriot, with the support of Agriterra and SNV, in its next phase of growth and professionalization. The most important conclusions of this report is that in the next twelve months Mosoriot should be able to obtain growth by: 1) getting new members in the district; 2) through autonomous growth of its current members; 3) by selling the other products besides passion fruit grown by its members. 

Further Mosoriot should professionalize its current (core) activities, using its two existing consolidation centers, by structuring the marketing and sales process and digitalize the administration. The 2012 action plan (September - December) comprises the following activities: 
Development of a production and marekting strategy for passion fruit,  covering Local, National and export Markets             
Capacity building of management and board
Training of farmers on good agricultural practices
Improvement of management and administrative systems
&#61656;	Computerisation
&#61656;	Expansion of working space
&#61656;	Accounting systems
&#61656;	Policies and procedures (board, financial and staff)
&#61656;	Code of conduct
&#61656;	Performance contract
In 2012 Agriterra will fund salary of manager and accountant in order to manage steady growth of the cooperative.

Support business development and market driven growth of Mosoriot Horticultural Crops Growers Co-operative Society Ltd