• The new digital platform will connect farmers and buyers to improve market access.

• Developed by the government and FAO, it aims to cut post-harvest losses and boost efficiency.

• Agriculture accounts for 14% of GDP and 80% of exports but faces structural challenges.

The government of São Tomé and Príncipe, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), officially launched on October 24, a new digital platform designed to help farmers promote and sell their products.

Developed by the Directorate of Entrepreneurship at the government’s request, the platform seeks to streamline the movement of agricultural goods from field to market, reduce post-harvest losses, and bring producers and consumers closer together. Designed to be simple and accessible, it builds on existing digital habits among local farmers, many of whom already use smartphones and WhatsApp.

The initiative forms part of a broader program to promote youth employment in agriculture. The sector remains central to the national economy, contributing about 14% of GDP and nearly 80% of export earnings, according to the French Development Agency (AFD). However, it still faces structural challenges, including limited market access, lack of price and demand information, weak distribution networks, and high post-harvest losses.

The new platform is positioned as a strategic tool to turn the country’s agricultural potential into real economic value. It aims to strengthen the competitiveness of local value chains, improve market access, diversify trade opportunities, and create new prospects for young rural entrepreneurs. Over time, this digitalization of agriculture is expected to improve traceability, raise farmers’ incomes, and modernize the rural economy of the archipelago.