User:Ikuru-nampula/Ikuru Mozambique

'IKURU' means STRENGTH. It represents the fact that Ikuru was established to enable Farmer’s control over their own livelihoods.

Ikuru currently has in excess of 25,000 Farmer shareholders grouped in 29 Farmers Associations in the North of Mozambique. Around 40% of the Farmer shareholders are women.

Ikuru is a Mozambique farmer owned, agri-trading, processing and exporting Cooperative. Ikuru produces a variety of Organic and Fairtrade seeds, nuts, beans and pulses. The company was founded in 2003 with initial investments from Mozambican Farmers Associations. There are also investments by ethical investors (GAPI and Oxfam Novib).

Ikuru is now the most successful farmer-owned business in Mozambique. The volume of total crops marketed has increased from 300 metric tons per year in 2004 to 2,250 metric tons per year in 2009, an impressive figure representing annual growth of around per year 50%.

This represents a substantial increase in income to producers, contributing to improved livelihoods and enabling farmers for the first time to exert local control over their marketing options.