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Abstract

Agricultural cooperatives have become essential tools in rural areas, fostering agricultural development. This study examines the marketing of farmers' produce by cooperatives in Tanzania. It specifically investigates the collection processes of agricultural produce through cooperatives and the importance of cooperative marketing during the 2023/24 to 2024/25 seasons. The study used a descriptive mixed-methods design that mixed both qualitative secondary data analysis and qualitative documentary review. As such, the study utilised secondary data from the Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission (TCDC) statistical database and the report on the performance of non-financial cooperatives in Tanzania in 2025. The data included variables such as weight (tons) and value (TZS) for various crops, including tobacco, cashew nuts, cotton, coffee, sesame, cocoa, sisal, tea, pigeon peas, soybeans, green grams, grapes, sugarcane, beans, and maize. Descriptive statistical techniques were employed to summarise and present the data, including total weight (tons), total value (TZS), and the percentage change between the two years. The findings indicate that the main marketing processes for agricultural produce through cooperatives include collecting produce, advertising it, online auction and bidding, and payments to farmers. Additionally, it was found that agricultural cooperatives in Tanzania during the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons traded a total of 3.88 million tons of crops with a market value exceeding TZS 6.2 trillion. The study concludes that integrating digital platforms and WRS, with close oversight by regulatory bodies, is associated with substantial changes in agricultural marketing in Tanzania, from the local to the international level. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture should support and promote agro-processing initiatives to boost produce's value, create jobs and enhance export competitiveness.

 

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