Arusha Co-operative Union Limited
Registered under Co-operative Societies Act No. 14 of 1982 (Reg. No. AFF-ARS-ARS-CC-2023-51) — uniting 43 Primary Cooperative Societies across Arusha and Kiteto. We collect and market Coffee, Sunflower, Honey, Pigeon Peas, Maize, and Livestock for our members.
ACU Ltd Headquarters
Arusha, Tanzania
36+
Years of Service
43+
AMCOS Members
6+
Products
4+
Districts
Our Services
What ACU Does for Farmers — education, inputs, market access, and on-farm support across Arusha and Kiteto.
Farmer Education
Training on good agricultural practices, cooperative governance, financial literacy, and modern farming techniques through sessions, demo plots, and extension services.
Market Access
Aggregating crops and trading through TMX, Warehouse Receipt System, TCB coffee auctions, and direct buyer partnerships — ensuring transparent, competitive pricing.
Agricultural Inputs
RUZUKU fertilizer through TFC, quality seeds, coffee seedlings from our nursery, and agro-chemicals at subsidized rates to AMCOS members every planting season.
Agriculture Services
Extension advisory, soil testing, crop protection, planting supervision, harvest handling, and livestock veterinary support across Arusha Region and Kiteto District.
Our Products
ACU collects coffee, sunflower, honey, pigeon peas, maize, and livestock from members — finding productive markets locally and abroad.
Tanzanian Arabica Coffee
ACU's primary cash crop — collected from smallholder farmers across Arusha and Kiteto. ACU coordinates collection, processing, grading, and marketing in compliance with Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) quality standards. In 2021/2022, ACU collected over 181,000 kg of parchment and clean coffee, paying farmers over TZS 633 million.
Pigeon Peas (Mbaazi)
ACU collects pigeon peas from member AMCOS in Arusha and markets them through the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX) and direct partnerships with buyers. A key export crop supporting food security and farmer income.
Sunflower (Mfegu)
ACU coordinates sunflower collection and marketing through TMX, connecting farmers with oil processors and export markets. A growing enterprise providing cooking oil and animal feed opportunities.
Maize (Mahindi)
ACU supports maize farmers through input provision, market linkages via TMX, and warehouse receipt system storage. Both a food security and income crop for ACU member societies.
Honey (Asali)
ACU collects natural honey from beekeeping groups among its member societies. Processed and packaged for local and regional markets, providing supplementary income for farmers.
Livestock (Mifugo)
ACU supports livestock keepers in Arusha and Kiteto with veterinary services, market access, and cooperative organization. Includes cattle, goats, and sheep — critical for pastoralist communities.
Stakeholders & Partners
ACU operates through a network of financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and development partners.
CRDB Bank
Financial PartnerKey banking partner providing financial services and loan facilities for cooperative operations and farmer payments.
BOA Bank
Financial PartnerBank of Africa provides banking and financial support for ACU's agricultural marketing.
COOP Bank
Financial Partner — HQ DodomaSpecialized banking for cooperative societies and their members. Headquartered in Dodoma.
Azania Bank
Financial PartnerSupports ACU with financial services for crop collection, processing, and marketing.
TCDC
Cooperative GovernanceTanzania Co-operative Development Commission — legal, supervisory, and promotional framework ensuring good governance.
Agriterra
Strategic Partner (Netherlands)Training in cooperative governance, financial management, and capacity-building for institutional resilience.
Moshi Co-operative University
Academic PartnerCollaborates on research, training, and cooperative education programs for members and staff.
TCB
Coffee Industry RegulatorRegulates coffee processing, grading, licensing, and trade operations — ensuring quality standards.
TCCCO
Coffee Processing PartnerTanganyika Coffee Curing Company — works with ACU on curing, processing, and preparation for markets.
Ready to Join Our Cooperative Family?
Call 0689 586 879 or follow @arusha_cooperative_union on Instagram
About ACU Ltd
Our History
Arusha Co-operative Union Limited (ACU Ltd) was established to unite and serve primary cooperative societies (AMCOS) across the Arusha Region and Kiteto District. Registered under the Co-operative Societies Act No. 14 of 1982 with Registration Number AFF-ARS-ARS-CC-2023-51, ACU has been serving farmers for over 36 years. The union brings together 43 primary cooperative societies representing thousands of smallholder farmers and livestock keepers.
Registration Details
Registration Number
AFF-ARS-ARS-CC-2023-51
Registered Under
Co-operative Societies Act No. 14 of 1982
Registrar
Arusha Regional Co-operative Office
Coverage
Arusha Region (Arumeru, Monduli, Arusha DC/CBD) and Kiteto District
Our Achievements
ACU has achieved significant milestones since its establishment. In the 2021/2022 season alone, ACU collected over 181,000 kg of coffee, paying farmers over TZS 633 million. The union has also established the MUVU/COPRA system for crop tracking and audit, operates Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) under the Warehouse Regulatory Board (WRRB), and trades through the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX).
☕ Coffee Collection 2021/2022
181,810 kg of parchment and clean coffee collected from member AMCOS, with TZS 633,612,122 paid directly to farmers at TZS 6,208.84 per kg.
🏢 Systems & Platforms
MUVU/COPRA for crop tracking and audit. Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) under WRRB. TMX trading platform for transparent commodity marketing.
🌱 Input Distribution
RUZUKU fertilizer distributed to farmers through the TFC program. Coffee seedlings from ACU's own nursery. Quality seeds and agro-chemicals at subsidized rates.
Our Duties
- Collect, process, and market agricultural produce on behalf of member AMCOS
- Provide agricultural education, training, and extension services to farmers
- Supply agricultural inputs (fertilizer, seeds, seedlings, chemicals) at affordable prices
- Operate the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) under WRRB for secure crop storage
- Trade through the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX) for transparent pricing
- Maintain the MUVU/COPRA system for crop tracking, audit, and traceability
Vision & Mission
Vision
A united, prosperous, and sustainable cooperative movement that empowers smallholder farmers and livestock keepers in Arusha and Kiteto.
Mission
To unite, serve, and empower primary cooperative societies through quality agricultural services, market access, education, and financial inclusion — improving the livelihoods of over 50,000 farmers and their families.
Governance
Union Leadership
ACU Ltd is governed by an elected Board of Directors drawn from member AMCOS, supported by a management team responsible for day-to-day operations.
Chairperson
Elected by the Annual General Meeting from among AMCOS representatives
Vice Chairperson
Supports the Chairperson and oversees specific committee work
Secretary
Manages board proceedings, records, and compliance
Treasurer
Oversees financial management and reporting
Management Team
The management team handles daily operations including crop collection, marketing, finance, farmer education, and administrative functions.
Departments
Coffee Department
Handles coffee collection, processing, grading, TCB compliance, and marketing through auctions and direct sales.
Crops Department
Manages pigeon peas, sunflower, maize, honey, and other crop collection and TMX marketing operations.
Finance & Administration
Oversees budgeting, accounting, banking relations, farmer payments, and administrative operations.
Education & Extension
Provides farmer training, demo plots, extension services, and cooperative governance education.
Statistics
Coffee Collection & Payments (2021/2022)
| District | AMCOS | Parchment (kg) | Clean (kg) | Total (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arumeru | 25 | 72,500 | 35,200 | 107,700 |
| Monduli | 12 | 38,100 | 18,400 | 56,500 |
| Arusha DC/CBD | 6 | 12,360 | 5,250 | 17,610 |
| TOTAL | 43 | 122,960 | 58,850 | 181,810 |
Payment Summary
Total paid to farmers: TZS 633,612,122 | Rate: TZS 6,208.84 per kg | Season: 2021/2022
AMCOS by District
| District | Number of AMCOS | Primary Crops |
|---|---|---|
| Arumeru | 25 | Coffee, Pigeon Peas, Sunflower |
| Monduli | 12 | Coffee, Livestock, Honey |
| Arusha DC | 4 | Coffee, Maize, Sunflower |
| Arusha CBD | 2 | Coffee |
| TOTAL | 43+ | Coffee, Pigeon Peas, Sunflower, Maize, Honey, Livestock |
Key Performance Indicators
Years of Operation
Serving farmers since 1988
Farmers Reached
Direct and indirect beneficiaries
TZS Paid to Farmers (2021/22)
Coffee farmer payments
kg Coffee Collected (2021/22)
Parchment and clean coffee
News & Events
ACU distributes RUZUKU fertilizer to member farmers
Through the TFC program, ACU has successfully distributed subsidized RUZUKU fertilizer to member AMCOS for the 2025 planting season, ensuring farmers have access to quality inputs at affordable prices.
Arabica Coffee seedlings available at ACU nursery
ACU's own coffee nursery is now supplying quality Arabica seedlings to member farmers. Contact ACU to place orders for the next planting season.
Pigeon Peas & Sunflower trading via TMX
ACU is now actively trading pigeon peas and sunflower through the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX), providing transparent market prices for member farmers.
Warehouse Receipt System under WRRB fully operational
ACU's Warehouse Receipt System is now fully operational under the Warehouse Regulatory Board (WRRB), enabling farmers to store crops and access credit using warehouse receipts as collateral.
MUVU system for crop tracking & audit
The MUVU/COPRA system is now deployed across all ACU operations, providing full traceability and audit capability for crop collection, processing, and marketing.
2025/2026 Registration Now Open
AMCOS registration for the 2025/2026 season is now open. Contact ACU headquarters or your local AMCOS to register or renew membership.
Contact Us
Send a Message
Contact Information
Address
ACU Building, Sokoine Road
Arusha, Tanzania
Phone
0689 586 879
ICT Support
0747 329 659
info@acu.co.tz
@arusha_cooperative_union