The cashew sector holds a predominant position in Côte d’Ivoire, but female farmers face financial and technological challenges. Wi-Agri offers a « phygital » approach to improve market access, optimize operations, and increase the incomes of female farmers.

Predominance of the cashew sector

In 2023, global demand for cashews rebounded strongly, driven by competitive prices for cashew kernels. The sector has attracted several importing countries, notably Vietnam, with 2.8 million tons of raw cashew nuts, and India, with 1.1 million tons. Other regions, like the Middle East, China, and the Americas, are also showing growing interest.

In Africa, the cashew sector is rapidly developing, supported by a significant increase in the number of local processors, which has quadrupled since 2017, including many women. The West African region shows promising production, with good prospects in Nigeria, Benin, and Ghana. However, the sector’s growth is primarily driven by the strong performance of Côte d’Ivoire.

Côte d’Ivoire : Global leader in the cashew sector

Côte d’Ivoire maintains its position as the world’s leading producer of cashew nuts and ranks third in processing this product. Over the past decade, the country’s cashew production has significantly increased, from 100,000 tons to over 1.2 million tons in 2022. In 2023, national production reached 1,225,935 tons, marking a 19 % increase compared to the previous year.

Role of women in cashew cultivation

Women play a prominent role in agricultural cultivation in Côte d’Ivoire. The cashew value chain includes more than 500,000 producers, 20 % of whom are women. The cultivation of this nut involves physically demanding and time-consuming tasks, but the responsibilities of female farmers do not end with agricultural work. Additionally, they must manage household duties.

These responsibilities reduce the time available to manage their plantations. Moreover, women often invest more effort in meeting the household’s food needs, highlighting a disproportionate economic burden. Success in this sector also requires significant investments, particularly in quality inputs and adequate materials. Despite this, access to low-cost financing remains a significant challenge for female farmers.

Reality of the glass ceiling

The cashew sector in Côte d’Ivoire faces major challenges:

• Price volatility
• Quality issues with nuts
• Insufficient liquidity
• Lack of actor structuring

In addition to these obstacles, women face an additional challenge: the glass ceiling. Typically, female farmers, who typically have to leave school by necessity or choice, are responsible for family finances, which increases their burden.

Lacking access to formal banking services, Ivorian women turn to savings and mutual aid groups, such as AVECs or tontines, for financial support. These informal networks offer a solution to cover school fees and manage unexpected expenses. Mutual aid groups also exist for field clearing and maintenance, a necessity for those who lack the means to hire workers.

Limited access to digital financial tools

The growth of mobile money in Côte d’Ivoire facilitates transactions and access to financing. However, female cashew farmers lag behind men in adopting this technology. This gap is due to sociocultural barriers, lack of education and training, and traditional gender roles that restrict women’s access to technology. Nevertheless, the use of mobile money by women is showing notable progress.

Digital approach to empower women

Wi-Agri, an innovative platform, is transforming the cashew value chain in Côte d’Ivoire by directly connecting producers, especially women, with buyers. Female farmers benefit from digital tools to manage their inventory, secure payments, and access credit, thereby optimizing their operations and increasing their incomes.

Digifemmes, a program by Wi-Agri, aims to empower female farmers in Côte d’Ivoire. The program overcomes obstacles to their full participation through local « ambassadors » chosen for their community expertise and digital proficiency. These ambassadors guide women in using Wi-Agri, train them in digital tools with regular sessions, and provide tablets through the platform.