Agro-food

YOKOUMI is a Togolese company specializing in the processing of shea nuts into organic shea butter and related products, including soaps and balms. Its shea butter is primarily sold in bulk to manufacturers and cosmetic brands for export. The company relies on a certified organic value chain that ensures the traceability of its supply and adherence to responsible practices. 

YOKOUMI also conducts awareness campaigns among women on environmental protection, sustainable management of natural resources, and economic alternatives to deforestation. It also supports the transition of women who previously earned their income from cutting and selling firewood toward the collection and processing of shea nuts. 

In its production process, the company uses oilcake as a source of energy for cooking, employs improved stoves and solar panels, and is continuing its energy transition through the installation of a biodigester and the upcoming implementation of a gasifier.

The Entrepreneur  

Kossiwa Delali ADEDJE is the founder, managing director, and sole shareholder of YOKOUMI SARL U. With a degree in development economics, she has gained an understanding of rural economic dynamics, particularly through her volunteer work with the association Solidarité Enfance et Vie on income-generating and microcredit projects for women. She became involved in the shea industry in 2016 after identifying a lack of profitable market opportunities for women shea producers in central Togo. She then launched an informal business buying and reselling shea butter, and from 2016 to 2019 coordinated the purchasing, processing, packaging, and shipping operations. In 2019, a meeting with a buyer interested in organic shea led to the creation of YOKOUMI SARL U. Since then, she has structured the company around local processing, organic and fair-trade certifications, sourcing from women’s cooperatives, and B2B sales primarily for export.

Partnership with I&P and Comoe Capital 

The total support provided to Yokoumi includes funding of 69,383 euros, earmarked for the following purposes: 

• Purchase of raw materials  
  • Purchase of production equipment:  
  • Mill
  • Dryer 
  • Butter churn 
  • Briquette machine for the roaster 
  • Conversion of the dryer to electricity 
• Fitting out of the production site 
• Construction of a well 

The support also includes two technical assistance services: 

• Accounting technical assistance; 
• Commercial technical assistance. 

VEMAR Group is a company committed to the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector in Africa. It stands out for its integrated approach, which combines fish farming, the supply of high-quality inputs—including selected fingerlings and feed tailored to the various stages of fish farming—and training programs for young entrepreneurs looking to launch their own fish farming ventures. 

Thanks to its technical expertise and local presence, VEMAR Group actively contributes to securing aquaculture value chains, professionalizing industry stakeholders, and promoting responsible aquaculture that addresses the continent’s food challenges. Its ambition is clear: to feed Africa while fostering employment, innovation, and the conservation of natural resources. 

The Entrepreneur

A recognized expert in economics, energy, and the environment, Demba Fall Diop brings to VEMAR Aquaculture more than 30 years of experience in promoting sustainable investments and securing international financing. 

A graduate of the University of Maine (France) and holder of an MBA in management (University of Wales, United Kingdom), he currently coordinates the European Union’s contribution to the JETP Senegal program, the country’s largest investment in renewable energy (2.5 billion euros). 

A visionary, he has led major aquaculture projects such as Royal Fish in Benin, Tanlapia in Tanzania, and the Ziniaré Tilapia project in Burkina Faso, while advising international energy players and investing in industrial and renewable energy projects in Senegal. 

As head of VEMAR Aquaculture, he embodies strategic and committed leadership, positioning aquaculture as a driver of food sovereignty and green growth for Africa. 

Partnership with I&P 

VEMAR is supported by I&P Accélération FARM. This partnership will enable the company to:  

• Double its fry production capacity: from 2 million to 4 million fry per year through the installation of 8 new tilapia ponds (first harvest scheduled for December 2026). 
• Expand commercial horticulture: construction of 1,000 m² of organic greenhouses for the production of fruits and vegetables for the HORECA market in Dakar. 
• Achieve full energy self-sufficiency: expand the solar farm with the acquisition of a storage battery, increasing self-sufficiency from 80% to 100%. 
• In-house feed production: install an extruder to locally manufacture grow-out feed and reduce dependence on imports. 

JOGOO is a company specializing in the design, supply, and installation of irrigation systems, the sale of biofertilization protocols, and the marketing of crop protection solutions, primarily for small and medium-sized agricultural producers. Founded in 2019 and operating in Cameroon since 2020 through its local subsidiary—officially incorporated in October 2022 as SUNSTREAM CAMEROUN SARL—the company has built its business model around three complementary pillars: irrigation, innovative Agribiosol biofertilizers, and crop protection solutions (mulching, greenhouses, insect nets). It stands out for its “turnkey” approach, which combines technical assessment, custom sizing, professional installation, and post-installation support. Since its inception, it has installed more than 500 irrigation systems and supported more than 1,500 producers throughout Cameroon. 

The Entrepreneur 

JOGOO, founded in 2019 and operating in Cameroon since 2020 through its subsidiary Sunstream Cameroon (officially incorporated in October 2022), is led by Tuna Bas. 

Tuna Bas: CEO of Sunstream Cameroon and Deputy CEO of the parent company Jogoo SAS, he holds a Master’s degree in Management. Since 2014, he has been working in sub-Saharan Africa, initially in investment consulting, where he carried out some 50 assignments in several French- and English-speaking countries. Faced with the challenges faced by farmers and small-scale producers in the region, he decided to develop an approach to address them. Based in the region since 2023, he is now described as a methodical and passionate entrepreneur, with a genuine ability to listen and be open to outside input. 

Partnership with I&P 

• Strengthen operational capacity and on-the-ground presence in the regions: by recruiting regional agronomists and a zone manager to support the deployment of irrigation systems and the promotion of Agribiosol products in the new target regions. 
• Optimize the supply chain and inventory management: by establishing regional stockpiles of biofertilizers to bring supplies closer to smallholder farmers, and by improving the tracking of product lines and their turnover rates to reduce instances of overstocking or stockouts.
• Streamline internal management: by improving its information system. 

Shaga Greens Company Limited is a female-led Ugandan agribusiness engaged in the production, aggregation and export of fresh produce to European markets. Founded in 2013 by Annonciata Mukamugema, who identified the opportunity while living in the Netherlands where fresh produce from Uganda was scarce and overpriced, the company connects Ugandan smallholder farmers to higher-value export channels in the Netherlands and Belgium. Shaga Greens sources its produce from a network of over 400 smallholder farmers, exporting between 7,000 kg and 12,000 kg per week through its packhouse in Kyebando, Kampala.

The entrepreneur

Annonciata Mukamugema is the founder and Director of Shaga Greens and owns 90% of the company. She is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in administration and finance across the public and private sectors, including nearly two decades with the United Nations in East Africa as a Senior Administrative Officer, followed by a similar role at Rabobank. She later transitioned into entrepreneurship, running African Secrets, a trading business, from 2005 to 2015, before founding Shaga Greens together with Serina Faridah. Annonciata works full-time in the business overseeing external markets.

Partnership with I&P et Inua Capital

Shaga Greens is supported by I&P FARM, a €4 million program aimed at financing and supporting startups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa within the agricultural value chain. The program is backed by Proparco and is implemented and managed by Inua Capital in Uganda and Kenya.

This partnership will enable the company to:

• Expand into dry produce lines including beans/pulses, millet and maize flours and herbs and spices such as hibiscus, turmeric, cardamom, cumin and passion cherry
• Provide working capital to support the team and operations
• Provide working capital to service fresh produce

IMPEX DIVINE EPICE is a Togolese company specializing in the processing and value-added production of local agricultural products, including chili peppers, ginger, onions, corn, and cocoa. It offers a range of value-added food products, including spices, cocoa powder, and flours. Having gradually evolved from a small-scale artisanal operation, the company formalized its structure in 2021 with the creation of IMPEX DIVINE EPICE as a limited liability company (SARL). Since then, it has strengthened its commercial presence and built customer loyalty. Today, its products are sold to wholesalers in several markets in Lomé, in supermarkets, and for export.

The entrepreneur 

After earning a degree in accounting in Togo in 2004, Olivia Magnon Afi VIGNON turned to entrepreneurship by launching a small-scale spice production business. Eager to build on her expertise, she trained in spice processing techniques before opening her first store in 2016. Between 2018 and 2019, she gradually expanded and structured her business through participation in several support programs and competitions, notably the PASA program (2018), followed by INNOV’UP and PNPER (2019), in which she was a winner. In 2021, she formalized her business by founding IMPEX DIVINE EPICE as a limited liability company (SARL), with the goal of promoting local agricultural products and offering high-quality processed goods. In recognition of her entrepreneurial journey, she received the 2025 Woman of Impact Award in the Best Female Entrepreneur category. 

Partnership with I&P and Proparco 

IMPEX DIVINE EPICE is supported by I&P Accélération FARM, a 4-million-euro program backed by Proparco and designed to finance some 20 SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa operating across the entire agricultural value chain (product processing, primary agriculture, livestock farming, aquaculture, distribution, sales of equipment and inputs, agritech, etc.). In Côte d’Ivoire, this program is implemented by Comoé Capital. 

This partnership will enable the SME to finance: 

• The purchase of equipment (automatic bagging machine and grinder); 
• The purchase of raw materials; 
• The purchase of packaging; 
• Finishing work on its production facility. 

Founded in 2021, POUYOU SARL is an Ivorian company specializing in the production and marketing of fortified infant cereals. The company was established as part of an effort to combat child malnutrition by leveraging local expertise. From its production facility in Bingerville, the company manufactures infant cereals using local raw materials—including rice, corn, peanuts, and soybeans—purchased from small-scale local farmers.

The entrepreneur 

Marie-Ange EHOUNOU is the founder and manager of POUYOU SARL. After earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing and communication in 2013, she began her career in the production and marketing of agricultural products. 

In 2018, after successfully treating her son’s childhood malnutrition with the help of a nutritionist, she decided to volunteer alongside the nutritionist, supporting mothers who came in for consultations regarding the same issue. This experience led her to pursue training in nutrition, upon completion of which she earned a state-certified nutritionist diploma. In 2021, she began sharing educational content and personalized advice on child nutrition before founding POUYOU SARL to promote appropriate child nutrition using local products.

Partnership with I&P and Proparco 

POUYOU SARL is receiving support from I&P Accélération FARM, a 4-million-euro program backed by Proparco and designed to finance some 20 SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa operating across the entire agricultural value chain (product processing, primary agriculture, livestock farming, aquaculture, distribution, sale of equipment and inputs, agritech, etc.). In Côte d’Ivoire, this program is implemented by Comoé Capital. 

This partnership will enable the SME to finance: 

Team expansion through the recruitment of key personnel and the payment of salaries; 
The purchase of equipment; 
The purchase of raw materials; 
The purchase of packaging.

ETS BOUBACAR DIALLO is a company specializing in the production of eggs, poultry feed, and manure, based in Faranah, Upper Guinea. Founded in 2011 by Mr. Boubacar DIALLO, the company has established itself as a growing player in Faranah’s poultry sector, with a strengthened strategic focus on poultry feed production to meet sustained local demand that remains underserved. 

The entrepreneur 

Boubacar DIALLO is a highly passionate entrepreneur in the poultry industry. With more than 18 years of experience, he combines a solid background in economics and nursing with practical expertise in the poultry sector. Having been involved in this industry for over a decade, he has developed his business gradually and strategically, adding poultry feed production in 2017 and, starting in 2022, making it a key area of diversification and growth. Thanks to his technical expertise, entrepreneurial vision, and ability to optimize limited resources, he actively contributes to the development of the local poultry industry and to strengthening food security.  

Partnership with I&P 

ETS BOUBACAR DIALLO is receiving support from the I&P FARM Acceleration program. This strategic partnership aims to modernize manufacturing equipment (grinders, mixers, silos, packaging systems) and increase feed production capacity—a prerequisite for supporting the expansion of the livestock herd and improving the farm’s overall performance. 

Founded in Niger in 2021, SCOOPS FASAM Terre Verte is a pioneering cooperative in the production and distribution of organic inputs (seeds, natural fertilizers, and bioprotectants). Under the leadership of its founder, agricultural engineer Djibo Almoustapha Boubacar, a recognized expert in agroecology, the company is taking a strategic step forward with the development of a 4-hectare semi-industrial farm. This integrated complex, equipped with modern production and training facilities, aims to make the cooperative self-sufficient and consolidate its role as a key player in sustainable food sovereignty in Niger. In a consolidation phase, the cooperative aims to scale up through the development of an integrated semi-industrial farm. This strategic project includes the production of vegetable seeds, the manufacture of biofertilizers, as well as the optimization of storage and commercial logistics 

The entrepreneur

Boubacar Djibo is the Executive Director of SCOOPS FASAM Terre Verte, an organization to which he devotes his full attention. An expert in agroecology and bio-intensive techniques, he combines entrepreneurial drive with strong management skills. 

His career has been marked by deep immersion across three continents (Africa, Europe, Asia), enabling him to develop a global vision of food sovereignty that is closely aligned with the needs of small-scale producers. This international experience now fuels his specialized operational expertise in the production of organic inputs (seeds, bioprotectants, bokashi). 

Recognized for his ability to bring together and build networks of farmers, he also serves as a consultant for the ICAF Climate Cluster. His total commitment and rigorous management of agricultural projects make him the driving force behind SCOOPS FASAM Terre Verte’s scaling up toward a sustainable semi-industrial model 

Partnership with I&P and Sinergi S.A

I&P is partnering with the FASAM TERRE VERTE Cooperative through a strategic investment aimed at:

• A repayable loan of 40,000,000 CFA francs, disbursed in three installments contingent upon performance KPIs; 
• Providing technical support to structure financial management, establish financial reporting, and professionalize the cooperative’s accounting procedures; 
• Supporting FASAM’s growth to increase its impact on food sovereignty; 
• Financing the modernization of its production facilities. 

Main Impacts

• Strong potential for climate adaptation: In the face of extreme weather events (drought, flooding, heat, erosion) that threaten crop yields and food security in Niger, the company provides smart and resilient agricultural solutions to sustainably strengthen production systems.
• Strengthening climate resilience: use of adapted local varieties, agroforestry, and agroecological practices to better cope with droughts and Sahelian conditions.
• Sustainable management of natural resources: drip irrigation, mulching, and cover crops to conserve water and preserve soil quality.
• Reducing the carbon footprint: using solar energy and reducing chemical fertilizers to limit GHG emissions, particularly those linked to nitrogen compounds (nitrites) from fertilizers. FASAM also contributes to GHG mitigation by composting organic residues.

CAFREX is an Ivorian company founded in 2022 by Mr. Bouaké SANGARÉ. It specializes in the production and sale of locally grown rice in Côte d’Ivoire. The company primarily offers polished rice, packaged in bulk bags for wholesale, as well as in retail sizes sold at its retail location.

In addition to its processing operations, CAFREX also provides mechanized services to rice producers, including mechanized agricultural services designed to improve the productivity of rice farms. CAFREX’s customer base consists, on the one hand, of wholesalers involved in the distribution of milled rice in local and urban markets, and, on the other hand, of agricultural cooperatives and individual producers who benefit from mechanized services. Distribution takes place primarily from the production facility as well as through a retail outlet located in Abidjan, in the Cocody Angré district. 

The Entrepreneur

Mr. Bouaké Sangaré is an agricultural engineer specializing in crop production. He graduated from the Private Institute of Tropical Agriculture (INPRAT) in Adzopé, where he earned an Associate’s degree in tropical agronomy (2013) and later a bachelor’s degree in engineering (2019), after earning a Series D high school diploma from Lycée Antoine Gauzé in Daloa. He has over ten years of experience in the agricultural sector, having started as an intern at SODEFOR (2014) and then at the Société Agro Piscicole de la Mé (2015), before managing the agro-pastoral farm of the Comptoir Ivoirien des Produits Tropicaux (CIPAX) between 2015 and 2017. He then served as Production Manager at GANLOGIS (2018–2019), followed by Technical Director at Africa Agreco from 2019 to 2022. Since 2022, he has been the manager of the Compagnie Africaine d’Expertise Agricole (CAFREX). Thanks to this varied and progressive career path, Mr. Sangaré possesses solid expertise in agricultural management, crop production, and technical support for farms. 

Partnership with I&P and Proparco 

CAFREX is supported by I&P Accélération FARM, a €4 million program backed by Proparco and designed to finance some 20 SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa operating across the entire agricultural value chain (product processing, primary agriculture, livestock farming, aquaculture, distribution, sale of equipment and inputs, agritech, etc.). In Côte d’Ivoire, this program is implemented by Comoé Capital. 

This partnership will enable the SME to finance:  

• The purchase of raw materials (paddy); 
• The acquisition of a truck. 

BALIF SARL is an Ivorian company founded in 2019, specialized in cassava processing. It operates a production unit located in Abengourou, in the locality of Yakassé Feyassé. 

The company was created with the aim of adding value to local agricultural products while generating value in rural areas. Its core activities include the production and marketing of attiéké garba and cassava paste, mainly targeting small retailers (garbadromes), wholesalers, as well as a limited number of individual customers. 

The entrepreneur 

Xavier Patrick BALIFI, 41, an Ivorian national, is the founder of BALIF SARL. He holds a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance and has over 15 years of experience in climate project management, green finance, and sustainable agriculture across Africa. 

He has held several positions of responsibility, particularly in the steering and coordination of projects in these fields. Driven by the ambition to empower rural communities and contribute to the fight against hunger, he founded BALIF SARL in 2019. 

Partnership with I&P and Proparco 

BALIF SARL benefits from the support of I&P Accélération FARM, a €4 million program backed by Proparco and designed to finance around twenty SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa operating across the agricultural value chain (product processing, primary agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, distribution, sale of equipment and inputs, agritech, etc.). In Côte d’Ivoire, the program is implemented by Comoé Capital. 

This partnership will enable the SME to finance: 

• The purchase of a grating mill; 
• The acquisition of a collection truck; 
• The purchase of a hydraulic press; 
• The purchase of a defibering machine; 
• Expansion works for the production unit.