CUMA - French Machinery Sharing Cooperative
...Sharing machinery to reduce fixed costs
CUMAs are very common in France especially in livestock production regions of the country. The concept started after the Second World War when French Agriculture had very little resources and there was a great need for food. At this time state support through the "Marshall Plan" was utilised. Now state support is limited to access to low rate loans and some grant aid towards the purchase of machinery which will provide environmental benefits.
In France there is a federation of CUMAs and support is provided to individual groups through the Chambre d'Agriculture service.
The service is activated when a group of at least four farmers can agree on the need to share an item of machinery. The group then calculates individual contributions to the capital cost of the machine based on their likely usage. Once purchased the machine itself is owned by the Federation rather than individual CUMAs even though the finance comes through the individual group.
Members then pay a fee for using the machine at an agreed rate which will cover all costs. All machines are fitted with meters to measure usage accurately.
Each CUMA elects a committee from amongst its membership which is responsible for running the group and calculating annual usage fees and dealing with any issues and disputes which might arise.
If a member wishes to leave a CUMA they can be repaid their investment less depreciation on the machine they are sharing. This is possible because the Federation owns the machine and has built up adequate capital over the years to be able to repay such investments.
Key Learning Points
Through being a member of a CUMA farmers gain access to high capacity, efficient machinery which improves the quality of production
Membership of the CUMA allows them to use much better equipment than they could afford on their own
The cost of the machinery required to carry out operations is reduced through CUMA membership
CUMA members feel part of a larger grouping and often share labour too for such operations as forage conservation.
The CUMAs provide a focus for training on machinery usage and other associated technical areas
There is often keen competition to become a member of a CUMA as membership is not automatic and relies on other group members being happy to admit new member. This demonstrates the perceived benefit of CUMAs.
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