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Founded in September 2020, Ethicajou is an agricultural SME based in Casamance that processes raw nuts into cashew kernels. Ethicajou is unique in that it has an inclusive shareholder model that brings together all the players in the value chain around a common project led by local producer organisations and development actors (AVSF and Ethiquable). Ethicajou sources its supplies from more than 500 producers.
Senegal is a low-income country facing numerous development challenges. It ranks 169th out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI), with an HDI of 0.517. When it was founded, Ethicajou was the first cashew processing plant in Kolda, one of the poorest regions in Senegal.
The establishment of Ethicajou has created jobs in one of the poorest regions of Senegal, while also supporting local processing in Senegal (at the end of 2023, less than 5% of cashews are processed locally) and increasing local added value. At the same time, Ethicajou guarantees producers and suppliers fixed prices that are not subject to market fluctuations, ensuring them more stable and attractive incomes.
Finally, Ethicajou supports the promotion of organic production by creating opportunities for producers.
