Togo

Faced with ever-increasing demand for rice, Togo is accelerating the modernisation of its rice sector, which is still hampered by shortcomings in local processing. Having long had to contend with rudimentary equipment and arduous working conditions, women processors are now embarking on a decisive turning point thanks to the introduction of appropriate technologies.

Nearly 200 women, organised into five cooperatives across the Central, Kara and Savanes regions, have recently received modern rice parboiling kits as part of the West African Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP). This equipment includes soaking tanks with capacities ranging from 800 kg to one tonne, 120-kg parboiling machines fitted with stainless steel sieves and fuelled by improved stoves, as well as drying tarpaulins. This material support is complemented by technical and entrepreneurial training designed to strengthen management capacities and improve the profitability of the activities.

The introduction of this equipment not only increases production volumes but also significantly reduces post-harvest losses and improves the quality of parboiled rice. Working conditions for women processors are also improved, with safer and less physically demanding processes.

The rice processed in this way, being more nutritious and commanding a higher market price, offers new economic opportunities, helping to increase incomes and empower beneficiaries.

The official handover of the equipment, held on 25 March 2026 in Tchamba, forms part of a national drive to modernise agriculture and promote female entrepreneurship in rural areas. This initiative highlights the strategic role of local rice processing in reducing dependence on imports and strengthening food security.

Beyond the provision of equipment, the approach adopted is based on comprehensive support, including close technical monitoring, to ensure that cooperatives sustainably adopt the technologies. On the ground, this initiative is seen as a key driver for boosting the local economy, improving people’s living conditions and strengthening the resilience of food systems.

Through this initiative, Togo is reaffirming its commitment to making the rice sector a driver of inclusive development, by placing women at the heart of agricultural transformation.

For a long time, farmers lived at the mercy of an unpredictable sky, and the weather was almost a mystery. Should they sow now… or wait for the rain?

In the villages, this uncertainty sometimes led to losses and forced farmers to take out loans to get through the season.

In Gadjagan, in the Agou prefecture, AGBAKLA Véronique was all too familiar with this reality. “Before, we used to farm without taking weather data into account. Often we would sow and it wouldn’t rain. We farmed in uncertainty (…)

Today, farmers are learning to plan ahead. Thanks to digital technology, agro-hydro-climatic information is no longer distant or uncertain: it is accessible, understandable and useful in everyday life. This innovation, introduced by the West African Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP TOGO) and its partners, enables farmers to make the right choices at the right time, thereby increasing the chances of success for their farming seasons.

“Since we’ve been receiving weather information, we now know when to sow. We also know weeks in advance whether it’s going to rain or not. This improves our yields.”

The relay committees set up within the Planned Agricultural Development Zones (ZAAPs) play a key role. These on-the-ground actors pass on the rainfall forecasts produced by the Togolese National Meteorological Agency (ANAMET) – disseminated via digital solutions – to their fellow farmers in local languages. In Gadjagan, the relay committee meets once a month and shares the weather information received with the 178 producer members of the ZAAP. Following the example of the Gadjagan ZAAP, 39 weather sub-committees have been set up to relay climate information across Togo’s six agricultural regions. Every message and every alert enables them to plan sowing more effectively, organise the growing season and protect their crops.

It all starts with weather forecasts produced by the Togolese National Meteorological Agency (ANAMET). But to be useful, this information must reach farmers at the right time. Thanks to the SIHAM platform, an innovative digital solution that improves the dissemination of rainfall forecasts, messages are sent via text and voice calls in French and local languages directly to farmers organised within the ZAAPs.

Behind this project initiative lies a dynamic public-private partnership, led by the FSRP, ANAMET, the IFDC, telecommunications providers (Moov, Yas Togo) and other partner organisations (ICAT, CTOP), which combine expertise and technology to make the weather a true ally for farmers.

Furthermore, the refurbishment and equipping of weather stations have modernised climate data collection. FSRP Togo has facilitated the acquisition of spare parts, enabling the upgrading of automatic weather stations and thereby strengthening its global network. With new interconnection and transmission equipment, information flows more efficiently and is analysed more seamlessly. To make the most of these innovations, the FSRP supported the training of ANAMET staff in agrometeorology, climate change and sustainable development at Agrhymet

Today, these enhanced skills enable them to transform this data into reliable forecasts, directly useful to farmers in the field.

“Before, the success rate of our forecasts was around 40%. Thanks to the training, we have helped improve our bulletins to an 85% success rate,” says a beneficiary of the climate change training

Through this initiative, 123,598 farmers, 41.28% of whom are women, now have access to agro-hydrometeorological information.

As part of the implementation of the Food System Resilience Programme in West Africa (FSRP), the Togolese Institute for Agricultural Research (ITRA) organised its first open days and guided tours of technology and innovation satellite parks on 18-19 December 2025 in Dapaong and on 16 December 2025 in Sarakawa.

Following the success of the first Agricultural Technology and Innovation Park (PTIA) established in Davié in 2023 with the support of CORAF, the national coordination of FSRP-Togo assisted ITRA in setting up satellite technology and innovation parks in Sarakawa (Kara region) and Dapaong (Savanes region). These satellite parks, also known as local technoparks, were created to bring innovations from research closer to producers in remote areas and encourage their adoption. They serve as platforms for demonstration, learning, training and dissemination of agricultural technologies.

The organisation of these first open days and guided tours gave nearly 200 visitors (agricultural producers, seed producers and other stakeholders in the sector) the opportunity to discover and evaluate several improved crop varieties. These include soybeans (CRASS-1910P1, ITRA-SJ171), sorghum (Soubatimi and Pépé Kalé varieties), rain-fed rice (WAB0019634, WAB0019715), legumes, particularly cowpeas (WANG KAE), peanuts (IS1, L-GHA ITRA-SH2, ITRA-RAF and SH470P), and a variety of sweet potato varieties (Apomuden 1 and 2, Amouzoukopé, Djété Jaune). These technologies have been appreciated for their earliness, yield and potential for adaptation to local agroecological conditions.

Since 2022, several major achievements have been made possible thanks to the support of the national coordination of the FSRP Togo, including:

• the establishment of two (02) satellite parks in the Kara and Savanes regions;
• the conduct of field trials over two (02) agricultural seasons (2023 and 2024) in the six (06) agricultural regions of Togo, focusing on rice, maize, sorghum and legumes (groundnuts, cowpeas, soybeans);
• the organisation of Periodic Technology Review Workshops (APRT) in the six agricultural regions;
• the strengthening of technology transfer through ITRA's System Research Support Mechanism (DARS).

Thanks to these interventions, the following results have been recorded to date:

• More than 900 producers have participated directly in field trials, promoting the adoption of technologies and good agricultural practices;
• 244 leading producers and around 150 agricultural advisers have been trained in the use of the FeSeRWAM interactive digital platform, enabling better support for producers in variety selection and fertiliser management;
• Nearly 200 agricultural producers and seed growers actively participated in open days and guided tours of the technology and innovation parks in Sarakawa and Dapaong;

The gradual adoption of these different technologies has enabled producers to achieve substantial improvements in their yields.

• Producers who have adopted improved sorghum varieties (Soubatimi) report a significant increase in yields of up to 5 t/ha, compared to around 1 t/ha for local varieties.
• Similarly, groundnut producers using the IS1 variety have seen their yields increase to 2 t/ha, compared to 0.5 t/ha previously.

These yield improvements contribute to higher incomes for producers, leading to significant positive changes in their living conditions.

Dapaong, 12 December 2025: The Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Resources and Food Sovereignty (MAPRASA) officially handed over 60 motor cultivators to agricultural cooperatives in the Savanes region on behalf of the Minister.

The 60 motor cultivators were acquired as part of the implementation of the Food System Resilience Programme in West Africa (FSRP-Togo). This equipment was acquired for the benefit of 5,025 producers (including 2,881 women) operating in the ZAAPs in the Savanes, Kara and Centrale regions. The aim of this support is to improve sustainable access to agricultural mechanisation services, increase productivity and strengthen food security in the targeted areas.

During the symbolic handover of the equipment, the Minister's representative reiterated the President of the Council's vision of making Togolese agriculture a productive, high value-added sector that creates wealth and drives the country's economic growth. He urged the beneficiaries to use the motor cultivators responsibly and rationally in order to ensure their sustainability, stimulate local economic development and contribute effectively to the fight against poverty.

The heavy and light motor cultivators come with essential accessories such as shredders, trailers, carts, mowers, harrows, stone removers, cage wheels and spare parts. Their acquisition meets the needs expressed by producers and is part of a cost-sharing management approach, as highlighted by the FSRP's deputy operational coordinator, , in his speech: "These motor cultivators will be managed on a cost-sharing basis, meaning that beneficiaries will contribute 50% of the purchase price of the equipment. This will ensure that they are used properly, that they are durable and that it will be possible to purchase more in the future for producers who are also in need."

The choice of motor cultivators is the result of an in-depth analysis of soil characteristics, with the aim of preserving soil structure and contributing to the gradual restoration of degraded land through sustainable agricultural practices. This equipment is also designed to be accessible to women and young people, who are key players in agricultural development.

Agricultural advisers specialising in farm management (CTGEA) and the beneficiaries themselves have been trained at the National Agricultural Training Institute in Tové (INFA de Tové) on the use and management of the equipment. A monitoring and support system is in place to ensure the optimal and sustainable use of the equipment. "The motor cultivators we are handing over today are not just tools, but real levers for transforming agriculture," emphasised the FSRP Coordinator, inviting producers to make judicious use of them.

Speaking on behalf of the Governor of the Savanes region, the Secretary General of the governorate, Kegbero Latifou Seigneur, praised the leadership of the President of the Council, His Excellency Faure E. GNASSINGBE, whose vision and commitment to peace and security enable the population to carry out their agricultural activities in favourable conditions. He encouraged the beneficiaries to use the equipment in a spirit of collective responsibility so that each farming community could reap the full benefits.

In addition to providing 60 motor cultivators, the FSRP has achieved major accomplishments that reflect the scope of its interventions in the field. These include:

• the distribution of input kits consisting of certified seeds and fertilisers to 81,558 farmers in the ZAAPs, including 36,953 women, representing 45.3% of beneficiaries.
• The provision of market gardening kits (certified market garden seeds, biofertilisers and tools) to 7,267 producers, including 3,572 women (49.15%);
• The financing of 413 sub-projects led by young people and women as part of the PURS, reflecting the FSRP's commitment to rural employment and economic empowerment;
• Support for the construction of 1,600 livestock shelters and the provision of breeding stock for the small ruminant and poultry sectors;
• The ongoing development of four ZAAPs in the Savanes region, with the construction of superstructures and storage facilities.

These achievements have had a tangible, measurable and significant impact on the living conditions and economic performance of the beneficiaries. For example, 79.1% of beneficiary producers in the Savanes region report an improvement in their agricultural yields; 60.25% of beneficiary women report an increase in their income, compared to 23.36% of men. There has also been an increase in income of +83.6% in the Savanes region and +85.9% in the Kéran prefecture;

Beyond these figures, the FSRP's actions have promoted the sustainable reintegration of many producers who had previously abandoned their farms due to lack of resources, thereby contributing to strengthening agricultural resilience and reviving local economies.

From 25 to 28 November 2025, the Togolese Standardisation Agency (ATN) organised in Lomé, with the support of the Food System Resilience Programme in West Africa (FSRP-Togo), the validation of 42 national standards in priority sectors such as cereals, tubers and legumes, meat and poultry, horticulture and derived products.

Despite the internalisation of international and regional standards (ISO, IEC, ECOSTAND, CODEX, etc.), Togo did not yet have its own national standards for these priority sectors. This absence was a major obstacle to the competitiveness of products, the improvement of their quality and their access to markets. It was precisely to remove this obstacle and promote the free movement of products at regional and international levels that FSRP-Togo provided support for the development of national standards adapted to both the realities of the country and the requirements of regional and global trade.

Launched in 2024, the development process resulted in 42 draft standards, which were reviewed in a rigorous, inclusive and concerted manner with a view to their validation. Over four days, experts and stakeholders identified the standards to be made mandatory and defined the next steps in a project considered transformative for Togo's food and economic sovereignty.

The meeting was opened by the authorities responsible for promoting investment, who emphasised the importance of an economic framework based on quality, safety and competitiveness. Discussions then highlighted the strategic role of quality standards in improving product safety, business performance, cost reduction and trade dynamism. The objective is clear: to make the 42 standards currently being developed a sustainable tool for enhancing agri-food value chains and strengthening the "Made in Togo" label.

This initiative is part of Component 3 of the Food System Resilience Programme in West Africa (FSRP), dedicated to market integration, regional food trade and the development of agricultural trade. Thanks to the support of the Programme, Togo is now establishing its first national regulatory framework for agri-food, in line with regional policies and standards.

With this unprecedented set of standards, the country is taking a major step towards more competitive and secure production that can conquer regional and international markets. Standardisation is thus becoming a structuring lever for the competitiveness and resilience of Togo's strategic agricultural sectors.

Faced with agricultural losses caused by the fall armyworm, Togo is making a strategic shift by focusing on biological control.

In May 2025, the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) supported a mass release of parasitoids in several Planned Agricultural Development Zones (ZAAP), particularly in the East Plateaux and Kara regions.

This approach is based on the laboratory breeding of two particularly effective species of parasitoids (12,000 individuals of Cotesia marginiventris and 3,800 individuals of Chelonus insularis), which are introduced directly into maize fields to naturally neutralise the fall armyworm.

In order to maximise the effectiveness of this method, producers were made aware of the importance of not applying chemical treatments for two weeks after release. This allowed the parasitoids to establish themselves permanently in the treated areas.

Five months later, the initial results are promising.

Feedback from producers confirms a positive impact on maize yields. "This year, there have been far fewer attacks. The caterpillars haven't caused as much trouble as in previous years," says a producer from the Bouladè ZAAP in Assoli.

The trend is similar in the Atifoutou ZAAP. Attacks by the fall armyworm have been significantly lower this year, leading to improved crop quality and reduced use of chemicals.

This improvement in the field confirms the effectiveness of the biological approach adopted. To date, seven sites have already been successfully covered. The short-term objective is to extend the method to the entire territory, while continuing the mass rearing of parasitoids in Togolese laboratories.

For the FSRP, this initiative marks a major step forward in the fight against a scourge that has been ravaging Togo since 2016. It represents a tangible source of hope for maize producers across the country.

About the release of parasitoids

The release was carried out by slightly opening the cage containing the parasitoids to allow them to gradually escape. It is essential that the maize plants are between two and four weeks old after sowing at the time of the operation. This precaution has a significant effect on the parasitism rate of armyworms, particularly those in the L1 larval stage.

Once the cage is open, the agents move through the maize field, cage in hand, to facilitate the dispersal of the insects.

Faced with the challenges of climate change, access to accurate, real-time agro-hydrometeorological data has become an essential lever for securing agricultural campaigns and strengthening the resilience of producers. In order to guarantee the timely availability of agro-hydrometeorological data essential to actors in agricultural value chains, while promoting the development of integrated services via innovative digital platforms, the FSRP is strengthening the capacity of national structures to provide reliable information services. The project is therefore investing heavily in supporting the Togo National Meteorological Agency (ANAMET), providing it with state-of-the-art equipment and strengthening its operational capacities.

Among the most significant advances, the installation of a satellite image receiving antenna opens up new prospects in terms of the accuracy and reliability of climate forecasts. ANAMET now has access to high-quality satellite data from more dynamic and powerful forecasting models, enabling it to anticipate future climatic conditions.

In addition, new agro-meteorological stations have been acquired and are ready to be deployed in the field. These stations will enable localised, real-time monitoring of agro-climatic parameters, a major asset for farmers, particularly in areas with high agricultural potential.

The relaunch of the production and dissemination of rainfall and climate information via the hydro-agrometeorological information system (SIHAM) is a decisive innovation that facilitates real-time access to localised agro-meteorological forecasts. This system, set up by the FSRP, allows forecasts to be sent directly to agricultural producers, either by SMS or voice call, in planned agricultural development zones (ZAAP) and beyond. The result is better anticipation, reduced losses and optimised agricultural campaigns.

Beyond the equipment, the rehabilitation of weather parks and administrative buildings in various centres across the country, as well as the rehabilitation of the Directorate-General of Meteorology, provide a sustainable foundation for ensuring an efficient, modern public service that is more attuned to the needs on the ground.

Every year, as the rainy season approaches, ANAMET, in collaboration with technical structures, develops strategic agro-hydro-climatic forecasts. Thanks to the support of the FSRP, these forecasts are now more accurate, faster, more reliable and better disseminated, enabling farmers, decision-makers and socio-economic actors to plan their activities with greater confidence and efficiency.

This FSRP intervention illustrates how targeted investments in technology, infrastructure and information dissemination can transform warning and forecasting systems, while empowering producers to make timely decisions elsewhere.

Seventy-five producers from farmers' organisations, including twenty-five women, members of the Fresh Cassava Innovation Platform (PIMF), received training on good cassava cultivation practices with the support of the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP).

Held from 26 to 29 August, this session enabled participants to strengthen their skills across the entire technical process, from variety selection to pest management and the application of best farming practices. This support illustrates the FSRP's commitment to providing concrete and sustainable support to actors in agricultural value chains, as highlighted by Mr Ognankitan Koffi Dodji, President of the PIMF: "I commend the FSRP for this exceptional support. In the coming days, we will follow up with producers to ensure that they are effectively putting what they have learned into practice and following the technical guidelines."

This initiative goes beyond the simple transfer of technical knowledge. It also constitutes an act of solidarity and shared responsibility towards producers, according to the participants: "Today, we have learned a lot about cassava cultivation. Even as experienced producers, we have understood that certain practices were reducing our yields. Thanks to this training, we are leaving with solid knowledge that we will pass on to our peers."

The workshop, organised in two waves to encourage interaction and better assimilation of the content, was led by Dr Elikem SEGBEFIA, Head of the Cassava Programme at the Togolese Institute of Agricultural Research (ITRA), in collaboration with Mr Ognankitan Koffi Dodji, President of the PIMF.

As part of the implementation of the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme, 60 motor cultivators and accessories were purchased for agricultural cooperatives operating in the Planned Agricultural Development Zones (ZAAP) targeted in the Savanes, Kara and Centrale regions.

This action is part of the support for the implementation of the Emergency Programme for Strengthening Community Resilience and Security (PURS).

In order to optimise the use and management of this equipment, the FSRP has undertaken to strengthen
the capacities of 45 technical advisors in agricultural business management (CTGEA) in the cantons concerned to monitor the management of these motor cultivators by the beneficiaries.

The aim was to equip agricultural advisers in the cantons where the cooperatives benefiting from the motor cultivators are based with best practices for the use and monitoring of motor cultivators. These CTGEA will be responsible for supervising the use, maintenance and management of this equipment within the respective cooperatives of the beneficiaries.

The training was held at the National Agricultural Training Institute (INFA in Tové) from 22 August to 5 September 2025. Two sessions were organised, each bringing together 
22 and 23 participants, trained by INFA specialists in agricultural mechanisation.

Adopting an approach combining theory and practice, the training covered several modules, including: (i) preventive and corrective maintenance of motor cultivators, (ii) the basics 
of managing a mechanised agricultural services business, (iii) practical work including driving motor cultivators, hitching and unhitching, and carrying out mechanised agricultural work.

This training is a key step in ensuring the effective and sustainable use 
of the agricultural equipment provided. It contributes to strengthening the technical autonomy of cooperatives and ensuring the sustainability of investments made under the FSRP.

Organised as a prelude to the training of rotary tiller operators, this 
capacity-building session marks an essential preparatory phase. It aims to equip local equipment management bodies with the skills necessary to effectively supervise the use of motor cultivators, with a view to sustainable and concerted management in the service of rural development.

In the villages and prefectures of Togo, a quiet revolution is underway: healthier food for children and a better future for women.

Specialising in the production of infant flour enriched with moringa, néré or orange-fleshed sweet potato (PDCO), seventeen (17) women's cereal processing cooperatives have just received their health certificates and labelled packaging thanks to the support of the Food System Resilience Programme in West Africa (FSRP-TOGO).

These processing units were set up by the project with the aim of helping to combat malnutrition, offering better quality products at lower cost to the most vulnerable sections of the population and, above all, strengthening the economic empowerment of rural women, as highlighted by the president of the Motoag-Man cooperative in Dapaong: "With these new labelled packages and health certification, we will be able to sell more and improve our living conditions. It's an opportunity to move out of the informal sector."

For Elikplim, a cooperative based in Nyamassila, this recognition opens the way to new prospects full of hope and opportunity: "With these certificates, we now have proof that our flour is safe and meets standards. We can now take our flour to the Order of Malta hospital in Elavagnon, which is a large health centre." There is similar enthusiasm in Kpalimé, where the head of FEMME SOLIDARITE highlights the transformative impact of the programme: "Thanks to the support of the project, we have learned to improve our hygiene and processing practices. This certificate is a source of pride for all the women in our cooperative, who see their work being valued. Receiving this certificate and packaging is a victory for all of us."

As a reminder, the path to certification was rigorous. First, 720 women from 60 cooperatives were trained in good production and hygiene practices. Then, close monitoring enabled the selection of the 30 best processing units, 17 of which had their products validated by the National Institute of Hygiene (INH), following analyses carried out on samples taken by the Togolese Institute of Agricultural Research (ITRA).

In addition to certification, the cooperatives receive support to improve the presentation and distribution of their flours. More than 30,000 labelled packages have been purchased and distributed. This new packaging aims to improve the visibility of the products in pharmacies, supermarkets and health centres, places that have been largely inaccessible to these producers until now.

To mark the occasion, a joint CTOP-FSRP-ITRA mission travelled across the country's six agricultural regions from 19 to 25 August 2025 to officially present the certificates and packaging to the beneficiary cooperatives.

This project is part of the FSRP-TOGO strategy to promote nutritionally smart agriculture while strengthening food security and women's empowerment.