Diversification of the business with coffee and cocoa RFCU is located in Kasese town at the valley of the Rwenzori Mountains. In 2005 MVFA (precursor of RFCU) established as an association that supports vanilla growers with trade connections and technical support. For the Vanilla trade there is one buyer called N’dali estate. Since most of the farmers, organized in 13 different cooperation’s, also grow other crops like coffee MVFA decides to expand its business with coffee and also cocoa (that have a huge potential). The result of this decision was that MVFA turned into RFCU since the beginning of 2014. Since then RFCU supports the 13 cooperatives with a broad range of quality programs to improve quality and to gather funds from different investors to increase the profit. The reason for RFCU to step into coffee and cocoa is also to spread the risks. RFCU bought 11 acres of land in 2014. The aim with this land is to develop it as a community center with storage capacity. The union makes money by trading products. Because the vanilla margins decreased over the last years the union seek for new crops that resulted in coffee and cocoa. 
In 2017 RFCU builds a first micro-station (MS) for cocoa fermentation in BundiBugyo to make dry beans ready for export. All is done in a sustainable way with eye for the environment.
1. Market-Training on improving marketing/export skills management (coaching on marketing and sales). By means of a new business plan, new targets with respect to internal and external working capital requirements need to be set.- Insight in (inter) national coffee market, a training given by a local consultant.
2. Organisation-Provide education and training on the accounting system.-Implement a database /spreadsheet for gathering data such as members, production levels, quality issues etc.
It is recommended to appoint a senior accountant. 
3. TrainingTraining board and/or management in Excel, accounting, financial analysis, business planning, leadership and internal capitalization (action plan)

Goals 2017 for action plan:

-            improve marketing skills
-            improve leadership youth, women
-             improve member loyalty
-             getying a loan to expand the business
-             improve internal capitalisation
-            Increase the amount of vanilla and coffee collected and sold
Invest in coffee and cocoa next years. Be unique compared to others, they do natural washing. Focus on niche coffee. 







In the year 2018, RFCU intends to focus on four major objectives
Establish a youth council:  In order to integrate youth in decision making at leadership level and be able to put in place favorable activities for the youth in the cooperative. this will in the long rum create sustainability in cooperative leadership and membership.
Gender awareness: This is intended to strengthen participation and involvement of women into cooperative leadership and other activities of the union. This will also improve cooperative leadership and participation by all.
Review of the strategic and business plans: This will take care the changes in both the internal and external environments  and be able to come up with revised strategies for improved business growth. the current plans will be revised to suit the new changes.
Exposure visit: It is hoped that exposure of the board and management to buyers will create long term market linkages and thus be able to access lucrative markets for their produce. 



Goal: The ultimate goal for RFCU is produce and process specialty coffees, Vanilla and Cocoa in the Rwenzori sub region, Uganda1. Market-Training on improving marketing/export skills management (coaching on marketing and sales). By means of a new business plan, new targets with respect to internal and external working capital requirements need to be set.- Insight in (inter) national coffee market, a training given by a local consultant.
2. Organisation-Provide education and training on the accounting system.-Implement a database /spreadsheet for gathering data such as members, production levels, quality issues etc.
It is recommended to appoint a senior accountant. 
3. TrainingTraining board and/or management in Excel, accounting, financial analysis, business planning, leadership and internal capitalization (action plan). Goal: The ultimate goal for RFCU is produce and process specialty coffees, Vanilla and Cocoa in the Rwenzori sub region, UgandaThe 2018 action plan focuses on:- Improve Youth and women leadership- Improved access to working finances for facilitating purchase farmers products.       - Invest in coffee and cocoa next years. - Be unique compared to others, they do natural washing. - Focus on niche coffee.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Goals 2017 for action plan:
-            improve marketing skills
  
-            improve leadership youth, women
  
-             improve member loyalty 
  
-             getying a loan to expand the business
-             improve internal capitalisation
  
-            Increase the amount of vanilla and coffee collected and sold
Invest in coffee and cocoa next years. Be unique compared to others, they do natural washing. Focus on niche coffee.