Sahel Capital, through its Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA), has approved an additional $800,000 financing facility for MM LEKKER, building on an earlier $400,000 working capital loan provided earlier this year. This new injection of capital underscores SEFAA’s commitment to strengthening agricultural value chains and supporting smallholder farmers in West Africa.
MM LEKKER, headquartered in Benin, specializes in sourcing and trading soya beans, shea nuts, and cashew nuts for both local and international markets. Since its inception, the company has made significant strides in expanding its farmer network—from approximately 1,000 smallholders at the time of the initial investment to over 2,500 farmers today.
Commenting on the progress, Aïcha Haidara, Vice President at Sahel Capital, said:
MM LEKKER has demonstrated tremendous progress in strengthening smallholder participation in Benin’s agricultural sector. Their ability to scale farmer engagement while improving operational efficiency aligns perfectly with SEFAA’s mission.
Ahimakin Armel Theodore, CEO of MM LEKKER, highlighted the impact of SEFAA’s support:
Smallholder farmers are the backbone of Benin’s agricultural landscape, yet they face persistent challenges such as limited market access, price volatility, and fragmented value chains. With SEFAA’s financial backing and capacity-building assistance, we have strengthened our internal systems, improved governance, and deepened engagement with farming communities. Expanding our network to more than 2,500 farmers is a major milestone. This new facility will enable us to scale operations, enhance supply chain efficiency, and deliver better trading opportunities for our farmers.
