Massogbè Touré Diabaté is a visionary leader and the founder and CEO of the Ivorian Cashew Processing Company (Société Ivoirienne de Traitement d’Anacarde – SITA).
With a passion for empowering women and transforming an entire industry, Diabaté’s career in the cashew sector began in 1981 when she established the Cooperative of Cashew Planters of Côte d’Ivoire (COPLACI). At that time, Côte d’Ivoire was one of the world’s largest producers of raw cashew nuts, yet the vast majority were exported without local processing.
Determined to change this, she worked closely with local women, training them to cultivate cashew trees. She successfully expanded their plantation, demonstrating that local production could be sustainable and scalable.
A turning point in her journey occurred during a visit to Madras, India, where she saw a thriving cashew industry. Their success inspired Diabaté to replicate a similar model in her homeland. So, in 2000, she founded SITA, marking the inception of Côte d’Ivoire’s first industrial cashew processing operation.
The company now boasts a production capacity of roughly 15,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts per year and manages the entire cashew journey—from cultivation and processing to packaging and the international export of finished products.
The company consistently delivers premium cashew products to markets worldwide by utilising technology that meets global standards. Over time, SITA has expanded its operations to include eight subsidiaries, diversifying into rice processing, hospitality, transport, and microfinance sectors.
Central to its mission is empowering women, particularly those in rural communities. Diabaté’s commitment is clear: over 50% of the company’s workforce are women. To date, SITA has created approximately 800 jobs, including 750 positions held by women, enabling them to achieve financial independence and become vital contributors to their families and communities.
In addition to providing employment opportunities, SITA has significantly expanded cashew plantations—from an initial 120 hectares in 1980 to over 150,000 hectares today. This substantial growth has reinforced Côte d’Ivoire’s position as the leading global cashew producer.
In 2018, the company received the National Award of Excellence for Entrepreneurship in the Female category and was celebrated by the presidency as the Best Exporting Company in 2019. With a turnover of around 3 billion CFA francs (£3.7 million), it continues to set benchmarks for success.
Looking to the future, Massogbè Touré Diabaté envisions uniting the 11 cashew-producing countries in West Africa under a unique “Made in Africa” label. This initiative aims to elevate the continent’s presence in the global cashew market further and enhance its international competitiveness.
