Economies of scale for strong market position in dairy Mumberes farmers cooperative society limited (MFCS) is a relatively old cooperative started way back in 1964 with fairly developed structures. It was registered under the Ministry of Cooperatives and Development as a dairy cooperative society. Its aim is to bulk and market milk from the farmers to the processors, institutions and local consumers. The membership grows  at an annual average of 10% and now stands at 1373 farmers. It posted a figure of KSH 52.277.880.7 in 2011, a 38.25% increase from 2010. Milk Bulking remains the major activity contributing over 90% of business volume. The future growth and success of MFCS lies in its ability to set strategic priorities as well as to review options for building supply and market power, e.g. through creating economies of scale by joining foreces with one or more neighbouring cooperatives. For this to materialize strategy, systems and structures need to be in place and therefore Agriterra will assist Mumberes in improving its financial management, cooperative governance and supply chain management.

Mumberes is a primary dairy farmer cooperative and was established in 1982 with its primary purpose being bulking and marketing of member’s milk. They are currently running a resale store where they stock mainly dairy inputs for sale to farmers.  The cooperative deals only with raw milk that they sell to processors without any processing with this contributing to 91% of their total income and the store contributing 8% (may need to find out the 1%). 

Mumberes represents 1221 individual farmers (Females:432 and males:789)

During the year 2012 Mumberes in cooperation with Agriterra and SNV are planning the next activities: 

Organizational strengthening
-	Board training in organizational issues 
-	Joint Board meeting on merger proposal (Mumberes and Torongo Fcs)
-	Training of Management on effective leadership & management /financial management
-	training staff on milk handling and quality 

 Strengthen Financial Management 
-	Financial and procurement Policies development - Development of Human Resource Policy. 
Improving Productivity, Quality  and Extension Increasing Production by 
-	Setting up of training farms (model farms) and farmer field schools
-	involvement of  private sector and government participation (Field Days The meetings will be used for creating awareness and private sector  linkages) 
-	Learning material to support farmer field schools. Purchasing & preparation of learning materials to support extension service provision & training.
-	Set up of a  quality improvement  system
-	Development of an extension system and  Strengthening service provision strategy - Improve access to breeding and animal health services by Training artificial inseminators  and animal health workers. 

Supply Chain Improvement 
-	Dutch expert to carry out a supply chain assessment 
-	Analyze  the  market and develop a business plan for Mumberes;
-	Dutch expert  to carry out market analysis 
-	Local expert: SNV to hire local expert to compliment the Dutch expert in carrying out market analysis and developing business plan

  The total budget amounts €30.762, €4.065 will be own contribution of Mumberen, €8.711 contribution of SNV  and €17.986 are quested to Agriterra.

Increased linkage of family farmers' organizations at regional and international level, contributing to the agreement on common demands for more coordinated advocacy in terms of Food Security and poverty reduction.. An agreed program for lobbying activities of family farmers' organizations from five continents (Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania) on common issues, taking advantage of the International Year of Family Farming in 2014 and its preparatory process.