The name Solevo comes from two roots: Sol, for the sun that powers every harvest, and Levo, meaning to lift or raise up. Together, they capture what we set out to do since the beginning — support agriculture, and through it, lift up the people and communities who depend on it. A market gardening project launched in 2025 in Côte d’Ivoire is one such program, bringing seeds, training, and support directly to a group of rural women ready to build a sustainable income from vegetable farming.
The idea took shape in April 2024 and was formally approved a year later, in April 2025, with the project spanning nine localities across the Abengourou and Bongouanou regions in eastern Côte d’Ivoire. Plots ranging from 0.25 to 1 hectare were allocated to women’s groups, who received seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection products alongside training in growing eggplant, chili pepper, okra, tomato, and bell pepper.
In Abengourou, Solevo’s local technical sales representative mobilized and trained an initial group of 60 women. In Bongouanou, Solevo partnered with the National Agency for Rural Development Support (ANADER) to extend technical support to an additional 97 people organized into four groups. Together, the two regions brought 157 participants into the program.
The first nurseries were established in July 2025 in M’Brakro, with plantings continuing through the following months across both regions. The first harvest took place on November 1, 2025, and by March 2026, the groups had generated combined sales exceeding 5.7 million FCFA from their crops — proof that the model works.
Like any first season, this one came with lessons. Soil disease and irrigation issues meant adjusting course — trying more resilient tomato varieties, shifting crop plans, learning what worked and what didn’t. When okra was harder to sell than expected, groups found another use for it rather than let it go to waste. It’s the kind of hands-on experience that only comes from doing the work.
In the end, the program achieved our original goal – the women’s groups now have what they need to keep growing and selling independently, season after season. Building on this momentum, the program is expanding in 2026 to include a new group of women in the Ferkessedougou region.
Patricia Ilupeju, Assistant Marketing and R&D at Solevo Côte d’Ivoire and the project organizer, said it best:
“It was a great experience, seeing these women work hard and be happy after the harvest. I was glad to see them happy too. For Solevo, rural women’s empowerment matters.”
Watch the video below to see the project come to life, from the fields to the market.
For additional information and media inquiries, please contact: media@solevogroup.com
About Solevo Group:
The Solevo Group is a leading distribution platform for specialty chemicals and partners to farmers, businesses, industrial leaders and communities across Africa. Established in 1918, Solevo operates locally in eleven countries, including the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Angola, Ghana, Madagascar, Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa. Solevo serves a diverse spectrum of industries, from agriculture and food production to home and personal care, CASE & Construction, and Water treatment.
Driven by the belief that self-sufficiency and local industry growth are integral to Africa’s development, Solevo is dedicated to supporting the continent’s dynamic transformation. The company is committed to developing efficient, innovative, sustainable and high-quality products, services and solutions for African farmers, planters, entrepreneurs and industries. Solevo’s overarching mission is to contribute to a safer, healthier and more secure future for individuals and communities across Africa.