Uru North Cooperative

While southern Tanzania seems to be getting much attention these days, the north, near Kilmanjaro, has a long history in coffee production and produces beautiful coffee. Today it is mostly inhabited by larger estates but there are a number of cooperatives in operation bringing small farm holders together.

Uru North Cooperative is a joint venture of three village groups based in the Moshi rural district. The cooperative has an estimated 375 members who are managed by 7 board members which are elected every 3 years.

The average size of the members' farms is below 0.5 hectares and the farms are usually inter-cropped with bananas, avocado and beans. In addition most of the farms have some livestock such as chickens, pigs, goats and cows, which provide a valuable source of organic matter which nourishes the trees. The varietals of coffee grown are the traditional Bourbon and Kent, which were introduced into the region by missionaries during the 1900’s.