The verdict in three sentences
For an Amsterdam-based cooperative importer sourcing sesame and shea from 3,200 producers in Burkina Faso, a cooperative management system costs EUR 15,000 to 43,000 (10 to 28 million FCFA) and is delivered in 4 months, offline collection app included. It answers a requirement that has become commercial: European buyers want traceability of every weighing down to a geolocated plot, in line with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the EU organic regulation 2018/848. A large part of the budget can be covered by donors and value-chain programmes, provided you present a costed proposal.
What the tool must trace, from plot to container
The EUDR directly covers cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, wood, rubber and cattle. Sesame and shea are not on the list, but Dutch and European importers increasingly apply the same standards across their entire supply chain, and organic certification already requires lot-level traceability.
| Function | Data recorded | Value for the buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Producer register | Identity, primary cooperative, photo, contact | Proof of origin |
| Plot mapping | GPS polygon, area, crop | No-deforestation evidence |
| Weighing at collection point | Weight, quality, date, agent, lot | Lot-by-lot traceability |
| Lot and warehouse management | Consolidation, stock, transfers | Collected vs shipped weight reconciliation |
| Producer payments | Amount, method, proof of payment | Fair price, social audit |
| Certifications | Organic, fair trade, internal control | Access to premiums |
| Data export | Files for due diligence statements | Importer compliance |
The critical point is the collection point: in rural Burkina Faso the network is intermittent. The app must run fully offline on a tablet, ideally with a connected scale, and sync once back in town.
Project budget
2026 order of magnitude for 3,200 producers, 40 collection points and 25 agents, built by a West African agency.
| Item | Range | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and mockups | 1 to 2.5 million FCFA (EUR 1,500 to 3,800) | Workshops with 3 primary cooperatives |
| Offline collection app | 3 to 8 million FCFA (EUR 4,600 to 12,200) | Android, weighing, photos, GPS |
| Web back office and lot management | 3 to 9 million FCFA (EUR 4,600 to 13,700) | Stock, warehouses, reports |
| Producer payments module | 1.5 to 4 million FCFA (EUR 2,300 to 6,100) | Orange Money, Moov Money, traced cash |
| Mapping and buyer exports | 1 to 3 million FCFA (EUR 1,500 to 4,600) | Polygons, GeoJSON files |
| Field training and rollout | 0.5 to 1.5 million FCFA (EUR 800 to 2,300) | 2 days per agent |
| Total | 10 to 28 million FCFA (EUR 15,000 to 43,000) | 4 months |
Add 25 rugged tablets at 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA each, i.e. 3.75 to 6.25 million FCFA (EUR 5,700 to 9,500), and about 15% of the build cost per year for maintenance and hosting.
Funding the project: donors and buyers
| Funding source | Possible share covered | Usual condition |
|---|---|---|
| Value-chain programmes (bilateral cooperation, EU) | 40 to 70% | Technical proposal, co-funding by the union |
| European buyers and importers | 20 to 50% | Access to traceability data |
| National agricultural development funds | 20 to 40% | Up-to-date legal status |
| Partner microfinance institutions | Loan over 24 to 36 months | Harvest as collateral |
| Union's own funds | 10 to 30% | Deduction from premiums |
A strong proposal presents the full cost, the 4-month schedule, tracked indicators (plots mapped, share of traced weighings) and the expected gain on quality premiums.
Mini case study
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Mr Ouédraogo, director of the producer union, collects 2,400 tonnes of sesame each season. An Amsterdam importer offers a premium of 15 FCFA per kilo for a fully traced and geolocated lot, i.e. 36 million FCFA (about EUR 55,000) per season. The project costs 19 million FCFA plus 5 million FCFA of tablets, 60% funded by a value-chain programme. The union's net contribution is 9.6 million FCFA (about EUR 14,600), repaid in the first season. Mobile money payments also cut the settlement time after weighing from 3 weeks to 5 days.
FAQ
How much does agricultural cooperative management software cost?
Between 10 and 28 million FCFA (EUR 15,000 to 43,000) depending on modules and collection points, excluding tablets. Annual maintenance is about 15% of the build cost.
Are sesame and shea covered by the EU Deforestation Regulation?
They are not on the EUDR product list, but many European buyers already require plot geolocation. Anticipating it helps capture premiums of 10 to 20 FCFA per kilo.
Does the app work without a network?
Yes, collection, weighing and photos are stored offline and synced when the network returns. One tablet holds more than 5,000 weighings in memory.
How can producers be paid in a traceable way?
Through Orange Money or Moov Money, with an automatic receipt linked to each weighing. Cash payments remain possible, signed on the tablet, for the 20 to 30% of producers without a mobile account.
How long until it is operational before the season?
Plan 4 months, ideally starting in June for go-live in October, at the start of the sesame season. Plot mapping can continue during the season.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of producers, collection points and buyer requirements for a quote between 10 and 28 million FCFA, with a funding proposal ready for your donors. 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.
