VIFAD

Uhusiano Capital
Sep 6, 2018 · 4 min read

VIFAD is a producing, agro-processing and trading company based in the Ivory Coast, West Africa. Incorporated in 2016, it is a subsidiary of VIFAD Holding Limited, an investment vehicle based in Mauritius regulated by the Financial Service Commission.

Mainly active on the rice market in the district of Yamoussoukro, the company has created alliances with a variety of strategic partners including local rice farmers. The company operates over 50ha in production to supply local wholesalers and has 200ha of land with irrigated infrastructure in its own portfolio through land-lease agreements with numerous land owners and more via outgrower schemes.

Our goal is to produce and originate rice as well as to supply ours rice mills, capturing the profit margin across the value chain in a regional market with around 50% deficit of rice. We are also promoting a sustainable economic and social development in the area to alleviate poverty, reducing inequality, fight hunger, provide training capabilities, in addition to innovation via mechanization and technologies which enable us to support responsible consumption and production.

What are you looking forward to during the event?

We are looking to meet other project developers, impact investors, agribusiness to consider real opportunities that can deliver returns, impact, potential exchange of ideas, or commercial opportunities.

Why are you participating in the event?

Agricultural events with a focus on Africa are scarce, and this is the occasion for us to meet other commercial players, impact investors who have the same objectives and willing to create commercial opportunities and finance the private sector to help drive agricultural transformation in Africa.

What excites you most about your project?

Producing agriculture in Africa is not easy, there are barriers from local culture, customs, to weather and logistics as well as reliance on third parties, but we have been learning the strategies necessary to overcome these challenges. The benefits of this business are not just financial but rewarding through helping others and benefitting the local communities. I believe in a social capitalist society where redistribution of wealth can be done in the right way and benefit all the parties involved. This what I find to be the most exciting about this project.

About the Author — Chris Daplet

Chris Daplet, Co-Founder

Social entrepreneur born in the Ivory Coast, educated in France and the UK, graduating with a Degree and Post-graduate in Finance and Commodities. Using the skills gained through working in Investment Banking and the Commodities industry, I aim to bring further development to the Ivory Coast.

In Ivory Coast our cuisine largely involves rice for most meals. I was shocked to discover that over 50% of this rice is imported internationally instead of being home-grown. This is astonishing as Ivory Coast has a potential to be able to grow rice for our own needs and sell it at fair price to producers and consumers in the local area. Improving the structure of the rice network will enable smallholder farmers in outgrower schemes to produce enough rice with a better quality to improve their living conditions and respond to the domestic demand regarding food security. We aim to feed over 50,000 people per year, in addition to creating direct and indirect jobs.

Events by Uhusiano Capital

This publication compiles announcements and summaries of events Uhusiano Capital is attending and organizing.

Uhusiano Capital

Written by

Uhusiano Capital is a boutique, regulated, financial advisory firm based in London specialising in Impact Investment with an African focus.

Events by Uhusiano Capital

This publication compiles announcements and summaries of events Uhusiano Capital is attending and organizing.

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