ALIMI Cooperativa De Responsabilidade Limitada

Company Description

ALIMI is a Limited Responsibility Cooperative, based in Cuamba, Niassa, which was established in 2010, to serve a potential membership from the farmer association structure of the six Southern Niassa Districts: Cuamba, Metarica, Mecanhelas, Mandimba, Maua, Nipepe and Metarica; which number approximately 13, 000 farmers, organized into 50 zonal unions and 417 associations. ALIMI provides members with services for the processing and sale of their products and access to inputs and some extension advice. It also purchases product from non-members. It has a current paid up and growing membership of 337 individual members, from 45 Zonal Unions and 110 associations, following successful marketing campaigns organized by ALIMI Steering Committee in 2009 and ALIMI in 2010 where $160, 000 of farmer produce was profitably marketed using cooperative members funds and limited trader advances.The core management team consist of experienced ex-CLUSA project employees with many years of facilitating agricultural marketing in the area and farmer capacity building. ALIMI is constructing 2000t warehouse adjacent to the railway some 3km outside Cuamba town, two 4t trucks, a pickup, 4 computers and printers, office furnishings and other assets are valued at approximately $260, 000. ALIMI also has access to the 40 small district warehouses averaging some 20t belonging to the associations and unions , most of which are also members of ALIMI, and with whom it enjoys a good relationship. It is able to leverage the significant capacity of the association, for a structure to facilitate the low cost bulking and quality control of product at the district level.ALIMI is currently supported by CLUSA, which will provide it with ongoing technical support and capacity on strengthening its existing business systems; building staff/member/board capacities; securing adequate capitalization and access to available financing; building marketing capacities; and establishing trade linkages. The value of this technical assistance to ALIMI is approximately $394, 000 for 2010-11. Assistance is coordinated by Sr. Antonio Petulante, a full time cooperative business advisor who has been based in Cuamba for the last two years. Support will continue in 2012. CLUSA is an internationally recognized organization for its work in building sustainable producer own companies, founded in 1916.