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In the Fall of 2011, I worked as a volunteer for the CNFA.org Farmer-Farmer program in Mbeya, Tanzania to teach basic business and marketing skills to members of the Mbonzo cooperative. Background: At Mbalizi market in Mbeya municipal, a section of traders formed an Agricultural Marketing and Cooperative (AMCOS) by the name of "Mbonzo" which means beans in the local (Safwa) language. The AMCOS started in 2004 with 27 members of whom 10 were females and 17 males. Now it has more than 100 members. Legumes, especially the common beans, are an essential delicacy food in the diets of millions of Tanzanians and Africans as whole. Legumes are a key protein source for the vegetarian South Asian population as well, and a major export for East Africa and Tanzania in particular. Legumes are also an important source of proteins for the animal feeds industry. Through their ability to fix nitrogen to the soil, these crops contribute significantly to improving soil fertility in many farming systems, as well. AMCOS main objectives: 1. Unify members of the community to work together to bring about economic development. 2. Unify members for one common market for their agricultural produce, both locally and internationally 3. Help members gain access to credits/ capital 4. Help farmers gain access to extension services. AMCOS Activities: To buy and sell agricultural produce such as maize, paddy, common beans, finger millet, sunflower, simsim, and sorghum. By March 2007, the coop had a working capital of TSH 13.0million. The AMCOS is a beneficiary of Agricultural Marketing System Development Program (AMSDP) capacity building support. They have managed to get an order to supply maize to Export Company Ltd. Apart from maize; they are also involved in beans, sesame and sunflower. Five members carry out market intelligence and relay the information to the management for action; this function is augmented by the AMSDP coordinator in Mbeya which apart from market intelligence also provides training in quality, packaging and marketing. Mbonzo AMCOS has the potential to grow if more capacity building -- especially in organizational development and marketing is provided. If the group has some experience in collective marketing, they will be able to mobilize a large amount of working capital for purchasing in bulk if needed. The AMCOS has yet to access credit to banks/financial institutions though they already have submitted applications to NBC and CRDB in October 2006.the banks had requested for an insurance cover to the loans to avoid the risk of losing funds.