The paper discusses the experiences of the Regional Land Management Unit (RELMA), working with other project funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), in promoting viable and sustainable farmers organizations in East Africa in the face of liberalization and institutional reforms. The paper draws out some lessons on how and why farmers’ organizations work. Before the shift in policy, cooperatives thrived. However, they failed to adjust and compete in the liberalized economies and many collapsed. RELMA tried out ways to promote strong and vibrant grassroots farmers’ organizations to give farmers opportunities to participate in the development process. The authors found that, among other factors, farmers’ organizations to bind together, the process of establishing them must be gradual. This allows time for members to self-select themselves and develop their own vision. In addition, the process should be supported by favourable policies and extension services that respond to demand. It is shown that farmers’ organizations that are small and homogenous, mobilize their own resources and produce a marketable product continue to grow as common interest groups and join up into inter-group associations even after the departure of RELMA and its collaborators.
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