Cajou Espoir SA

Period

2023

Country

Togo

Sector

Agriculture

Financial facility

AgriFI

By investing in Cajou Espoir AgriFI supports organic food production and enhances sustainability of the value chain in Togo.

Project overview

EDFI AgriFI Invests €3 million in Cajou Espoir, Togo’s leading cashew processor, to support organic production and enhance sustainability in the value chain. This investment is part of the ACP regional window, supported by the secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific states (OACPS).

Cajou Espoir is Togo’s largest processor of raw cashew nuts, processing around 15% of the country’s annual production and exporting to the European market. A transition towards fully organic production is underway, for which the company has assisted in setting up farmer cooperatives and obtained organic and Fairtrade certification. Cajou Espoir strives to generate local employment and improve livelihoods.

Funding objective

With EDFI MC AgriFI’s financing, Cajou Espoir aims to increase its sourcing from associated farmer cooperatives and enhance processing capacity by investing in the automation of the plant. Land acquisitions will be made to develop its own plantations, hedging against price volatility and sourcing disruption. Investments will be made in machinery for the production of cashew by-products and renewable energy generation.

Investment rationale

EDFI MC AgriFI’s funding is additional by providing long-term capital, which Cajou Espoir will use to reach its growth targets. The investment will reinforce a vertically integrated cashew value chain benefitting smallholder farmers and strengthen the company’s operations.