Traceability software for a cashew cooperative: weighings, payments and cost

The verdict in three sentences

An exporter or processor in Amsterdam or Singapore buying raw cashew from a 2,400-farmer cooperative near Bouaké in Côte d'Ivoire needs proof, lot by lot, of who grew it, on which plot, how much was weighed and what the farmer was paid. With a farm-gate floor price set at 425 FCFA (about 0.65 EUR) per kilo for the 2026 season, a 1 % weighing error or a disputed payment costs far more than a paper register suggests. A custom traceability application, often co-funded by the buyer, falls between 4,000,000 and 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR) for a medium scope and up to 15,000,000+ FCFA (22,870+ EUR) for a full one, with a 3 to 5 month project.

What export buyers ask for in 2026

Buyers selling into Europe, Asia or the United States increasingly require digital evidence: farmer lists, GPS coordinates of plots, timestamped weighings, proof of payment at the floor price and no child labour. Cashew is not, at this stage, among the seven commodities covered by the EU Deforestation Regulation (cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, wood, rubber, cattle), whose application has also been postponed. Many buyers nevertheless apply the same requirements across their whole supply chain, and many cooperative members in the Gbêkê region also grow cocoa, so one tool serves both.

Modules and their cost

A well-scoped project starts with weighings and payments, which bring the fastest return, then adds mapping and a buyer portal. The ranges below combine 2026 orders of magnitude in Côte d'Ivoire with our official grid.

Offline mode is essential: weighings happen in the bush, often without signal, and the phone syncs as soon as it reaches 3G in Bouaké or Béoumi. Payments then go out through Orange Money, Wave or MTN Mobile Money, which removes cash transport and its risks.

Farmer payments: transparency and security

Payment is the moment of truth. The farmer must see the accepted weight, the deduction for moisture or defects and the price applied. The application sends an SMS receipt, then the referenced mobile money payment. For the cooperative and the buyer, every franc paid is tied to a weighing, which simplifies audits and any check by the Conseil du Coton et de l'Anacarde on the floor price. This kind of project is part of our custom web applications, with a dashboard any buyer can open in a browser.

Mini case study

Pieter is sourcing manager for a cashew processor in Amsterdam that buys from Mr Konan's 2,400-farmer cooperative near Bouaké. Average output is 900 kg per farmer.

• Volume collected: 2,400 × 900 kg = 2,160 tonnes.
• Value at the floor price: 2,160,000 kg × 425 FCFA = 918,000,000 FCFA (about 1,400,000 EUR).
• Weighing gaps and unexplained losses, estimated at 1 %: 21,600 kg × 425 = 9,180,000 FCFA (about 14,000 EUR) per season.
• Traceability premium paid by the processor, 15 FCFA per kilo on half the volume: 1,080,000 kg × 15 = 16,200,000 FCFA (about 24,700 EUR).

The annual stake exceeds 25 million FCFA (38,000 EUR). A medium-complexity application around 6,500,000 FCFA (9,900 EUR), plus 12 field kits at 400,000 FCFA and Standard maintenance at 75,000 FCFA (114 EUR) a month, pays for itself in the first season and gives Pieter auditable data for his own customers.

FAQ

Is cashew covered by the EU Deforestation Regulation?

Not at this stage: the regulation targets seven commodities, including cocoa, but not cashew. European and Asian buyers still often request geolocation, and the same tool covers members who also grow cocoa.

How long does it take to map 2,400 farmers?

With 6 trained field agents and 10 minutes per plot, plan 4 to 6 weeks outside the harvest. The best window is August to December, before the season opens.

Can farmers without smartphones be paid by mobile money?

Yes, a basic phone with an Orange Money, Wave or MTN account is enough. Opening an account takes about ten minutes per farmer with the cooperative's help.

Does the app work without signal at the collection point?

Yes, every weighing is stored offline on the phone, then synced. A day of 300 weighings uses less than 5 MB of data.

Can the buyer get its own access?

Yes, a buyer portal shows lots, aggregated farmer data and payment evidence without exposing unnecessary personal data. It belongs to the complex scope.

Let's scope your project. We define the scope with you (farmers, offline weighings, mobile money payments, lots, buyer portal) and a schedule aligned with the next harvest. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.