Richard Seshie
Cote d'Ivoire | Postharvest Storage and Processing
Richard Seshie, founder of ASSOCIATION 3535, is transforming rural agriculture in Côte d’Ivoire by empowering farmers with low-carbon “Agricare Farmer Centers.” These multifunctional hubs offer solar-powered cold storage, drying units, and grinding facilities, significantly reducing post-harvest losses, as high as 40%, and cutting emissions. Built by local youth trained in eco-friendly construction, the centers promote both employment and sustainability. Women, who make up the majority of the agricultural workforce and are disproportionately affected by post-harvest losses, are central beneficiaries of this initiative. Three of these centers have already benefited 2,000 farmers, halving losses and boosting incomes by 25%. Richard Seshie has led a new approach to rural development and effectively demonstrated that sustainable, climate-smart solutions can drive long-term prosperity for farmers and their communities.