Benin ranks among Africa’s top pineapple producers, but up to 40% of crops are lost due to issues like transport delays and inadequate storage facilities. This thorny problem has caught the attention of local tech entrepreneurs.

Porto-Novo

Benin, a leading pineapple producer in Africa, faces significant crop losses during off-peak months due to limited market access and short shelf life. To address this, a partnership between an agricultural engineer and a tech specialist led to the creation of Ipaina, a mobile app that connects farmers with buyers and exporters, allowing for better planning and quicker sales.

Since its launch, Ipaina has helped sell 600 tonnes of pineapples, linking around 2,000 farmers with more than 200 buyers and increasing farmers' incomes by at least 20%. The founders also established BioLife, a start-up that trains farmers in eco-friendly methods to improve soil health and fruit longevity. Supported by organizations such as Digital Africa and Proparco, BioLife Tech aims to expand its services to neighboring countries.

In Benin, tech entrepreneurs tackle pineapple waste

Right now is the peak pineapple season in Benin. Farmers are busy harvesting while buyers are lining up. But between February and August, demand drops significantly and farmers have one week to sell their stock before it spoils. They could lose up to 25% of their crop. In previous years, some of my pineapples would rot because there was no market. Last year, I couldn't find any buyers for some of my pineapples. I had to reduce the price and sell them for pennies. Although Benin is a major pineapple producer in Africa, finding buyers quickly remains a challenge. To address this issue, an agricultural engineer and a tech specialist created a mobile app. Ipaina locates pineapple fields and connects farmers with buyers. Exporters are notified as soon as crops are ready for harvest. What we've observed in the past is that exporters could spend days searching for raw materials. Today, with our platform, they can find the pineapples that they need with just one click. They can also plan ahead with a clear idea of pineapple availability over six months. In just two years, the app has helped to sell 600 tonnes of pineapples by linking about 2,000 farmers with over 200 buyers. As a result, farmers saw their income rise by at least 20%. Exporting them, however, demands less fertilizers. So they set up a start-up, BioLife, to teach farmers eco-friendly methods, making the soil healthier and extending the fruit's shelf life. The market that we're introducing to our producers is demanding. Teaching them on the ground makes a real difference. Ipaina was born from a partnership between a tech expert and an agronomist, both committed to helping farmers, with support from groups like Digital Africa and Proparco, part of the French Development Agency, BioLife Tech plans to expand into new markets like Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and beyond.

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