The forests of northern Togo face several challenges, including deforestation, soil degradation and unsustainable agricultural practices. Faced with this situation, the Togolese government, in partnership with NGOs and international organisations, has launched a number of initiatives to counter deforestation. These initiatives include reforestation, the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, and raising awareness among local communities of the importance of forest conservation.
Since 2022, the West African Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) has been implemented in Togo to reinforce these efforts, among others. Specific activities are being carried out to educate local populations about the importance of preserving forests. Among these initiatives, awareness-raising campaigns encourage alternative practices such as agroforestry, which not only protect forest resources but also improve communities' livelihoods.
The national coordination of the FSRP, in conjunction with the Ministry of the Environment and Forest Resources, is supporting more than 1,401 nursery cooperatives, including 830 women, with equipment for the production and maintenance of tree seedlings for the production of forest, fruit and medicinal plants. The Pépinière de Soutien à l'Arboriculture et l'Horticulture (PSA) group, located in the Tchamba prefecture, is a concrete example of this support. Since 2022, this grouping of 15 members, including 8 women, has benefited from support from the Ministry for the management of nurseries, reforestation and the creation of green spaces.
In 2023, as part of the FSRP, the PSA group received training in nursery management and plant maintenance. In addition to this training, the group received essential equipment such as wheelbarrows, shovels, watering cans, hoses, motor-driven pumps and polythene bags to increase their production of seedlings.
The impact of this support is tangible. According to El Hadj Djigba Abdou-Sacko, president of the PSA group: ‘When we started out, we didn't have adequate equipment and it was difficult to meet orders. Thanks to the support of the FSRP, our production has risen from 20,000 to 50,000 plants, generating an income that has increased from FCFA 2,000,000 to FCFA 5,000,000’.
Group members have also diversified their activities thanks to the profits they have made. They take out small interest-free loans to finance other income-generating activities, such as the sale of food products.
Support for tree nurseries in the central region of Togo has led to a significant increase in the production of forest seedlings. These nurserymen play a crucial role in reforestation, which is essential for restoring degraded ecosystems. Thanks to improved agricultural practices and modern nursery techniques, they now produce more robust and diversified seedlings adapted to local conditions.
This increase in production not only brings environmental benefits, but also generates additional income, improving the quality of life of nurserymen and strengthening the resilience of local communities in the face of climate change. At the same time, reforestation contributes to forest restoration, creates buffer zones for local ecosystems, reduces soil erosion and promotes biodiversity.
By offering training, subsidies and easier access to markets, the FSRP aims to create a virtuous circle in which economic activity and environmental conservation are mutually reinforcing. This integrated approach is essential to meeting environmental challenges while ensuring sustainable development in the region.
