The development of commercial partnerships with processors and distributors has enabled producers to enhance the value of their production. By structuring relations between producers and rice mills within a transparent and equitable framework, it becomes possible to ensure a better distribution of margins, access more stable and remunerative distribution channels and boost the local economy. On the marketing front, in addition to the Tone rice mill, three other rice mills have benefited from PRSP support for product marketing. These are the Binah, Notsè and Sotouboua rice mills. Market contracts have been signed with producers to guarantee the sale of their products. Thanks to this support, a total of 24,178 producers have been able to market their produce to date.
In addition to contractualization, which secures sales to producers, players in the rice value chain have received various forms of support to improve their marketing in value chains, including capacity building on market access under the FTAA, training for women and young traders on cross-border trade, customs procedures and other regulatory requirements of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor. These players have also been supported in their participation in various markets, at the Lomé International Agriculture and Food Fair (SIALO), and at various fairs promoting local products to promote trade in their products.
Several other initiatives have been supported by the FSRP in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and the High Authority for Quality and the Environment (HAUQE). These included the development of a certification programme for priority Togolese agri-food products, including rice, for the HAUQE, to help companies become more competitive and have easier access to markets. The programme has also supported the compilation of Togo's foreign trade statistics on products targeted by the WAEMU, ECOWAS and FTAA markets, as well as the compilation of a directory of exporters and potential exporters of agri-food products to put them in touch with buyers in the ECOWAS region.
