Ivorian lender Versus Bank and financial technology company PUSH have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop digital payment and financing solutions for the country’s coffee and cocoa sector, as the industry faces growing demands for transparency and supply-chain traceability.

The agreement is intended to improve access to credit for agricultural stakeholders, strengthen the tracking of financial transactions and reduce risks associated with financing agricultural activities.

The partnership forms part of a broader initiative by PUSH to expand digital financial services across Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural sector. On October 15, the fintech also announced agreements with the National Investment Bank (BNI), Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire and Orange Money.

The initiative aims to connect financial institutions and digital payment services with producers and other participants in agricultural supply chains, making transactions easier to monitor and potentially reducing reliance on cash payments.

For coffee and cocoa producers, digital payments could help improve the security and traceability of their income. Better access to transaction records could also help financial institutions assess borrowers and develop financing products adapted to agricultural activities, where income often fluctuates with harvest cycles.

The move comes as Côte d’Ivoire seeks to modernise its coffee and cocoa industry, a key part of the national economy. The country has already introduced digital tools, including producer identification cards, to improve traceability and secure commercial transactions.

International market requirements have also increased pressure on companies to demonstrate the origin of agricultural products and improve transparency throughout supply chains.

However, the effectiveness of the partnership will depend on how quickly the planned services are implemented and adopted by farmers, cooperatives and other businesses. Access to reliable digital infrastructure, the availability of financial services in rural areas and users’ ability to operate digital tools will remain important challenges.

The institutions have not disclosed a specific financing amount under the Versus Bank–PUSH agreement or detailed the number of producers expected to benefit directly.

The partnership marks another step in efforts to bring agricultural transactions into more traceable digital systems, although its impact on access to credit and producers’ incomes will need to be assessed as the solutions are deployed.