Grace Ashiru
Ghanaian agricultural technology company Vitara Agritech has secured $2 million (€1.8 million) in equity funding to expand its sustainable shea sourcing operations, strengthen supply chain transparency, and create more economic opportunities for women farmers in northern Ghana.
The investment was provided by AgriFI, an agriculture-focused impact investment facility funded by the European Union, alongside Acumen and a group of angel investors.
Formerly known as Sommalife, Vitara Agritech was established in 2020 to address challenges affecting smallholder farmers and improve their participation in international agricultural markets.
The company operates a technology-enabled sourcing model that connects rural producers with global buyers seeking responsibly sourced agricultural commodities.
Central to its operations is TreeSyt, a proprietary digital platform designed to improve traceability, farmer engagement, agricultural training, and environmental monitoring.
The technology helps record farmer information, track commodity purchases, monitor shea trees, and provide greater visibility across agricultural supply chains.
By digitising these processes, Vitara aims to reduce inefficiencies associated with traditional commodity trading while supporting transparent and sustainable sourcing practices.
Women farmers represent a significant proportion of the company’s agricultural network.
According to Vitara, approximately 91% of farmers participating in its network are women, while around 47,000 women farmers were actively involved during the most recent shea season.
Shea production provides an important income source for rural communities in northern Ghana, with the commodity widely used in cosmetics, confectionery, and other industrial applications.
Through its business model, Vitara seeks to improve farmers’ access to international buyers, strengthen market participation, and promote responsible environmental management.
The latest funding will support the expansion of its sourcing activities, improve access to agricultural services, and strengthen efforts to protect shea-producing landscapes.
Mawuse Gyisun, the company’s co-founder and chief operating officer, welcomed the investment, highlighting its potential to expand support for women producers and develop a more transparent agricultural supply chain.
The investment also represents a milestone for AgriFI’s Ghana Country Window, which supports agricultural businesses working to improve smallholder livelihoods.
For Vitara, the new capital provides an opportunity to strengthen relationships with farming communities while responding to growing international demand for traceable agricultural ingredients.
The company aims to combine digital innovation, sustainable sourcing, and inclusive trade to improve economic opportunities across Ghana’s shea industry.
