The verdict in three sentences
A cotton and sesame cooperative union of 5,000 farmers around Ouagadougou loses time, money and member trust when harvest payment takes 3 weeks. For Amsterdam-based commodity buyers, impact funders and agritech teams, this is the reference case. An offline collection app linked to the scale, with mobile money payments, costs 12,000,000 to 28,000,000 FCFA (about 18,000 to 43,000 EUR) in 2026. It brings payment down to 48 hours and produces donor reports without re-keying.
Budget by module
The context dictates precise technical choices: no or unstable network in collection areas, weighers unfamiliar with digital tools, inputs advanced on credit then deducted at harvest, and donors requiring traceability per farmer.
| Module | Scope | 2026 budget (FCFA) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmer registry | Identity, GPS plots, group, mobile money number | 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 | 3 weeks |
| Offline collection and weighing | Android app, Bluetooth scale, printed or SMS receipt | 3,500,000 to 7,500,000 | 5 to 6 weeks |
| Inputs and season credit | Fertiliser, seed, advances, automatic deduction | 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 | 4 weeks |
| Mobile money payment | Orange Money, Moov Money, bulk payouts, reconciliation | 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Dashboard and donor reports | Volumes, quality, price, gender, traceability | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 | 3 weeks |
| Training and field rollout | Weighers, storekeepers, group secretaries | 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Hosting and maintenance | Server, backups, SMS, support | 70,000 to 140,000 / month | Ongoing |
Hardware comes on top: a rugged Android tablet costs 120,000 to 200,000 FCFA, a connected scale 250,000 to 450,000 FCFA. For 40 collection points, plan about 15 to 25 million FCFA of hardware, often fundable by a donor.
Before and after: what farmers and donors measure
| Indicator | Paper collection | With the app | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment time after weighing | 15 to 25 days | 24 to 48 hours | Mobile money payout |
| Gaps between weigh slips and stock | 2 to 4% | Under 0.5% | Connected weighing |
| Unrecovered season credit | 8 to 15% | 2 to 4% | Automatic deduction |
| Time to prepare a donor report | 3 to 4 weeks | 1 to 2 days | Automatic export |
| Cash moved on the roads | 300 to 600 million FCFA per season | Almost none | Staff safety |
| Farmer loyalty (delivery to the union) | 70 to 80% | 85 to 92% | Fewer side sales |
The last figure is decisive. A farmer paid in 3 weeks sells part of the harvest to the trader who pays cash, even at a lower price. Paid in 48 hours on the phone, the farmer delivers to the union, which secures the volumes promised to buyers and ginners.
Mobile money costs to factor in
Bulk payouts via Orange Money or Moov Money in Burkina Faso are negotiable for large volumes, usually between 0.5% and 1.5% of the amount paid depending on the business contract. On 2 billion FCFA paid out per season, that is 10 to 30 million FCFA, to compare with the cost of escorted cash transport, losses and group secretaries' time. The software generates payout files, tracks each transaction and flags failed numbers for a second run.
Mini case study
Mr Ouédraogo runs a union of 120 farmer groups east of Ouagadougou. Each season, the union collects 9,000 tonnes of cotton and sesame and pays farmers about 2 billion FCFA. With paper collection, he loses 3% of stock in weighing gaps and fails to recover 12% of 180 million FCFA in input credit.
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He invests 22,000,000 FCFA in the software and 18,000,000 FCFA in hardware. Weighing gaps fall to 0.5%, i.e. about 2.5% of 2 billion: 50 million FCFA. Unrecovered credit falls from 12% to 3%, i.e. 16 million FCFA recovered. Mobile money fees at 1% cost 20 million FCFA, partly offset by the end of cash escorts. Net gain exceeds 45 million FCFA in the first season, for a 40 million FCFA investment.
FAQ
Does the app work without network?
Yes, collection and weighing run fully offline for several days. Data syncs as soon as the tablet picks up 3G, with capacity for 5,000 weighings stored per device.
Can farmers without a phone be paid?
Yes, payment can go to a registered family member's number, or stay in cash for 5 to 10% of farmers. The registry tracks each payment method.
How much does a full rollout cost?
Between 12,000,000 and 28,000,000 FCFA for the software, plus 15 to 25 million FCFA of hardware for 40 collection points. Hosting costs 70,000 to 140,000 FCFA a month.
Do donors accept these reports?
Yes, exports by farmer, gender and geolocated plot meet common traceability requirements, including those of European buyers preparing for deforestation-free supply rules. Preparation time drops from 3 weeks to 1 or 2 days.
How long before the season should the project start?
Allow 4 to 5 months: 3 months of development and 4 to 6 weeks of testing and weigher training before markets open.
Let's scope your project. Offline collection, connected weighing and mobile money payouts for your union: indicative budget of 12 to 28 million FCFA, live before the next season. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
