This is significant support from the West African Food System Resilience Programme, Projet-Togo (PRSA/FSRP-Togo) to producers in the Maritime region.
On Thursday 1 August 2024 in the Moyen-Mono Vo, Yoto and Lacs prefectures, certified maize and rice seeds were distributed to vulnerable farmers in these areas in preparation for the 2nd agricultural season in southern Togo.
"The selection of these small-scale producers took into account their degree of vulnerability, and despite the fact that they are in these conditions, the way in which they fight for agricultural production", says Kokou Guidigan, ICAT Bas-Mono Branch Manager.
He stresses that once the inputs have been distributed, his agency will continue its advisory support work so that farmers can follow the technical itineraries to ensure acceptable yields.
According to the distribution key, each grower was entitled to 10 kg of maize seed to plant half a hectare, for example. This quantity of seed will enable them to produce at least 2.5 tonnes of maize after production.
"This support comes at the right time, especially as we prepare for the next short rainy season. This second season will start in September and it's important for us to have these seeds available. We're currently harvesting the last crops of the first season, and as soon as we've finished, we'll be preparing the areas for the start of the second season", says Yawavi Kakpo Djakpata, a farmer at Afagnan Totamé in the Bas-mono prefecture.
It should be noted that in 2023, the PRSF received additional funding of USD 20 million from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP), with the aim of helping to extend the areas of intervention and the number of beneficiaries, and to take into account additional sectors such as market gardening, small ruminants, roots and tubers, and cowpeas.
For the 2024-2025 agricultural season, the FSRP has extended its activities to all regions of the country, enabling the project to acquire certified rice, soya, maize and cowpea seed and fertiliser for 28,362 producers, including 13,895 women (48.99%).
To date, 98% of certified seeds and fertilisers have been distributed throughout the country. For the 2024-2025 agricultural season, certified maize, rice, soya and cowpea seeds and fertilisers have been distributed to 28,362 vulnerable farmers in rural areas of the country.
This support, which is an extension of the FSRP's intervention thanks to additional GAFSP funds, will strengthen the support provided in 2023 to around 22,746 producers in the Savanes region and the Kéran prefecture as part of the emergency programme to strengthen community resilience and security (PURS).
