Togo

As part of its many initiatives to support farmers, FSRP Togo has acquired 315 guinea fowl broodstock, including 225 females and 90 males, for distribution to 45 farmers in the Savannah region.

These poultry broodstock, acquired as part of the FSRP implementation, come from the semi-modern farms of the commercial breeders of the Agricultural Sector Support Project (PASA). The complementary nature of the two projects means that Mr TOURE Abdoumoumouni, a PASA commercial breeder and FSRP broodstock supplier, now has new ambitions. Starting with 5 head, Mr TOURE now has more than 600 head of guinea fowl: “I started my farm in 2013 with 5 head in a small pen. Most of the time, my guinea fowl slept in the trees and laid their eggs in the bush, which meant that not only the eggs but also the birds were stolen. I carried on like that until 2015, when the PASA project built me a traditional improved poultry house (PTA). Very quickly, my rearing unit began to improve, especially with the support of the technical services. In 2018, I again benefited from support from PASA’s competitive funds. This support gave me a major boost, because it was thanks to it that I was able to build this semi-modern henhouse, which enabled me to secure my breeding and easily increase the number of animals. I now have over 600 guinea fowl. Although I’m a PASA beneficiary, I’m now a supplier to the FSRP, which has just bought 315 guinea fowl for over a million CFA francs. To tell the truth, I never dreamed of such a thing. I am so moved by this action by FSRP. This money will enable me to reconstitute the breeding nucleus, increase the number of birds and, of course, meet the family’s needs. he told us.

Of the 315 guinea fowl broodstock purchased by FSRP, each breeder received 7 broodstock, including 2 males and 5 females.

In Gando, in the prefecture of Oti Sud, Mrs Christine tells us about her breeding project after receiving these 7 guinea fowl. Her ambition is to become a leading producer in the Savannah region. “My name is SANDO Christine, and I farm at Takpapiéni in the canton of Gando, in the commune of Oti Sud 1. FSRP project gave me 7 guinea fowl today, in addition to an improved henhouse that it had already built for me.  As a woman, I myself had a project, which was to become a reference breeder in Gando here. The support from FSRP has given me more strength to expand my farm and to serve the whole Savannah region in the long term, God willing.

Like Christine, FSRP Togo built improved traditional poultry houses (PTAs) for each beneficiary before handing over the broodstock. These actions are part of the PURS project and help to strengthen the resilience of these players, improve their productivity, reduce poverty in rural areas and increase their income.

L’élevage des petits ruminants, comprenant les ovins et les caprins, représente une source essentielle de protéines animales au Togo. Ce secteur fournit une part importante de la viande consommée dans les zones urbaines et rurales, tout en constituant une source majeure de revenus pour les ménages ruraux. Par ailleurs, il contribue significativement au renforcement de l’économie nationale.

Cependant, cette activité, pratiquée selon des méthodes traditionnelles, est confrontée à des défis majeurs, notamment un taux élevé de mortalité lié à diverses maladies et à l’insécurité dans la région des Savanes, principale zone d’élevage du pays.

Pour faire face à ces contraintes, le Programme de Résilience du Système Alimentaire en Afrique de l’Ouest (FSRP-Togo) a intégré, dans le cadre de son Programme d’Urgence pour la Résilience (PURS), une initiative visant à soutenir les petits éleveurs. Cette intervention consiste à leur fournir des géniteurs de qualité, tant pour les petits ruminants que pour les volailles.

La phase initiale de ce programme a impliqué l’identification de centres de production et de fermes capables de fournir les géniteurs nécessaires. À l’issue de cette étape, le FSRP-Togo a acquis des géniteurs ovins et caprins, qui ont été distribués aux éleveurs ciblés, en collaboration avec l’Institut de Conseil et d’Appui Technique (ICAT).

Dans la région des Savanes, 176 éleveurs ont été sélectionnés pour bénéficier chacun d’un noyau reproducteur composé d’un mâle et de trois femelles. Parmi eux, 121 pratiquent l’élevage d’ovins et 55 celui des caprins. Au total, 704 géniteurs ont été distribués, incluant 121 béliers, 363 brebis, 55 boucs, et 165 chèvres.

Pour garantir la santé et les performances reproductives des géniteurs, des tests de brucellose ont été effectués avant leur remise aux bénéficiaires. M. Tchalon, biologiste à l’Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique (ITRA), souligne l’importance de ces analyses : « Nous effectuons des tests de brucellose sur les géniteurs avant de les remettre aux bénéficiaires. Cette zoonose, transmissible à l’homme, peut déséquilibrer le système reproductif des animaux et entraîner des avortements. Ces tests nous permettent de nous assurer de leur état de santé et de leurs capacités reproductives. »

Les témoignages des bénéficiaires mettent en évidence l’impact de cette initiative. Kanfiyéne, éleveur à Naki-Est, partage son expérience : « J’élevais une dizaine de moutons qui me rapportaient un peu d’argent, mais j’ai subi des pertes importantes. Grâce au FSRP, j’ai reçu quatre géniteurs, dont un mâle. Cela m’a redonné espoir. »

De son côté, Daniel, éleveur à Tchamonga, exprime également sa satisfaction : « Je pratique l’élevage par passion, mais je manquais de moyens pour développer mon activité. Avec ces géniteurs robustes, je suis convaincu que mon troupeau s’agrandira et sera plus performant. »

En outre, Daniel avait déjà bénéficié d’une bergerie traditionnelle améliorée construite grâce au soutien du FSRP, renforçant ainsi les conditions d’élevage.

Dans les sept préfectures de la région des Savanes, 176 éleveurs ont bénéficié de cette initiative, avec un total de 704 géniteurs ovins et caprins, dont 484 ovins et 220 caprins. Cette intervention contribue non seulement à renforcer la résilience des éleveurs, mais également à améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et économique dans la région.

Le FSRP-Togo prévoit de poursuivre et d’étendre ses actions en faveur d’un élevage durable et performant, contribuant ainsi au développement rural et à l’économie nationale.

In Yadè Sodè, in the commune of Kozah 2 in the Kara region, 10 women driven by the desire to be financially independent are now creating wonders with the food products they process. They amaze children, their husbands and other women with their products, which help to improve household nutrition and increase their incomes.

When you talk to them, they are quick to reveal their secrets, which are the result of the training they have received as part of the implementation of the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme in Togo and the partnership with the Ministry of Health.

Three of these women from the Merveille cooperative were chosen to take part in the training of trainers. They learnt how to process soya into enriched flour, the nutritional elements of the orange-fleshed sweet potato and how to prepare a sauce made from moringa leaves.

After two years of implementing the activities, the impact on the health of families, thanks to the nutrients provided, and on the cooperative is legion, according to its President, Mrs Adjélékou Préname: “What we learnt during the training of trainers was above all hygiene in the processing of soya into flour and cheese. Before, we didn’t take into account certain details that meant our finished products weren’t of good quality. Today, we’re proud to offer quality products that everyone in the family can enjoy.

They produce 200 kilograms and have seen their turnover increase from 50,000 CFA francs to 150,000 CFA francs per month.

In addition, children aged between 6 months and 5 years who are vitamin deficient can correct their vitamin deficiency by regularly eating moringa-enriched flours.

Highly ambitious, the women of the Merveilles cooperative are aiming to increase their production from 200kg to 500kg per month and sell the finished products in supermarkets and internationally. To this end, they have decided to invest in the production of food crops such as maize, soya, moringa and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, and have acquired a 1 ha plot of land.

One of the special features of the women from the ‘Merveille’ cooperative is the packaging of the enriched soya flour produced using the techniques learned during the training course.

They praise the support of the FSRP and its partners, which has enabled them to increase their income despite the traditional production process for finished products.

To become more professional and modernise their activities, these women are aiming to acquire modern processing equipment such as a mill, cooking pots and quality packaging, either from their own funds or on loan. They plan to certify their products so that they can be displayed in shopping centres and pharmacies.

As a result of the support they have received from the FSRP Togo, the women of the “Merveilles” cooperative are now being held up as examples and asked to support other women in other localities who wish to become agricultural processors.

Women play a fundamental role in intra-regional trade. They account for more than 70% of those involved in local or cross-border trade in West Africa. This strong presence of women in regional trade is a sign of the dynamism of the economy and trade in West Africa.

However, they face difficulties in accessing the information they need to make the most of business opportunities on local and regional markets, and are largely unfamiliar with customs procedures and other regulatory requirements on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.

In order to provide an effective solution to these difficulties, the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) has supported the training of 150 women and young traders in cross-border trade, customs procedures and other regulatory requirements on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.

The aim of the training was to enable traders to master customs procedures and optimise their knowledge of the corridor’s regulatory requirements.

In Aného, in the Lakes prefecture, as in Atakpamé in the Ogou, women traders

were followed by presentations on: (i) the issues and challenges of implementing the FTAA for women; (ii) the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) and the FTAA trade documents; (iii) the organisational framework, rules of origin and procedures for clearing goods through customs; (iv) the FTAA protocol on women and young people in trade; (v) cross-border trade and the mechanism for eliminating non-tariff barriers (NTBs); (vi) cross-border trade and the facilities offered by the West African Association for Cross-Border Trade in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Products (АОСТАН).

This reinforcement will contribute to indicator R13.2 of component 3 relating to the “Number of farmers (value chain actors) having received goods or services to improve their marketing in the selected value chains”. In the long term, the activity could also contribute to ODP indicator 6 relating to the share of production subject to intra-regional trade in certain value chains (rice, soya, poultry).

The fourth Agricultural Technologies and innovations Market (MITA), organized by CORAF in partnership with the Togolese Institute for Agricultural Research (ITRA), took place from 21 to 25 October 2024 in Lome, Togo. Under the theme: “Facilitating access to agricultural technologies and innovations for the integrated management of pests, plagues and diseases of plants and animals”, this strategic event brought together key players from the agricultural and research sectors, becoming a platform of choice for the adoption of innovative solutions in West and Central Africa.

MITA 2024 was an opportunity to facilitate constructive exchanges between researchers, innovators, policy-makers and young agricultural entrepreneurs. The aim was to promote innovations capable of enhancing food security in the region. This year’s event was attended by 264 participants, including 84 women and 73 young people, demonstrating the multi-sectoral and inter-generational commitment to more sustainable and resilient agriculture.

This edition was enhanced by two major events: the 1st edition of the West and Central African Youth Summit, focusing on climate-smart agriculture, and the prestigious Abdoulaye Touré Agricultural Innovation Prize. The Youth Summit brought together young people from a wide range of agricultural backgrounds, giving them a platform to exchange views with experts and present their innovations. The Abdoulaye Touré Prize rewarded six young innovators with $10,000 each for their exemplary contributions to the agricultural sector. These initiatives illustrate the ambition to promote young talent as drivers of change in African agriculture.

Of the 67 technologies and innovations shared, 53 attracted particular attention, including 38 crop varieties and 15 agricultural equipment and animal technologies, on display at the ITRA technology park in Davié. These solutions ranged from crop varieties resistant to climatic stresses to tools adapted for the sustainable management of agricultural land and resources.

Four projects by young agro-entrepreneurs were presented in pitch form to a panel of judges made up of representatives from financial institutions and business leaders. Among these, Mr KONDOW Moubarack’s biological insecticide project, designed to combat cocoa mirids, stood out as the best innovation, demonstrating the potential of local solutions to regional agricultural challenges.

By bringing together players from various countries, the MITA once again demonstrated the importance of bilateral, regional and international cooperation in the agricultural sector. The meeting highlighted the role of science, technology and innovation (STI) in strengthening food systems, addressing the key components of food and nutritional security.

The 2024 edition ended on an optimistic note, setting the date for the next edition of MITA, scheduled for 20-24 October 2025 in Mali. The theme of this year’s event will be “Technologies and Innovations for Integrated Soil Management”, and the Abdoulaye Touré Prize and the Youth Summit will once again be part of the programme, underlining the continuity of a promising dynamic for African agriculture.

In short, MITA 2024 was a lever for agricultural transformation in West and Central Africa, strengthening the resilience of food systems through innovation.

The development of the rice sector is part of the agricultural development strategies of West African countries, and Togo in particular. Rice is a staple food for a large proportion of the Togolese population, with annual per capita consumption estimated at 35 kg. Yet the country is facing a major challenge: national production covers only part of its needs, reaching around 165,000 tonnes in 2020, far short of the 450,000 tonnes required. As a result, the country is dependent on imports for around 60% of its rice consumption.

To reverse this trend, the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), of which rice is one of the priority commodities, has undertaken an initiative with the Togolese rice trade association to widely disseminate Smart Valleys Technology. This is a lowland management system designed to retain and manage rainwater in fields while reducing fertiliser losses due to flooding, and it can significantly increase harvest yields (more details on Smart Valleys https://bit.ly/3TM17VT).

Recently (from 24 to 29 June 2024), a training session for a pool of 20 endogenous trainers was held to introduce producers to this technology. Each trainer then passed on their knowledge to ten other farmers in twenty villages in the central region of Togo. During these sessions, participants learned not only about the Smart Valleys approach, but also how it works and the advantages it offers for maximising yields from limited areas.

In addition to the training, the farmers received toolkits for developing their plots, including wheelbarrows, boots, ropes, cutters, daba, picks and other equipment needed to put the Smart Valleys method into practice. Abdourahim Milbawa, a young rice farmer from Guérin kouka in the Dankpen prefecture, was one of the beneficiaries of the training, and was quick to share his new skills with other farmers in his locality.

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"When I got back from the training, I quickly got together with my farmer friends to show them this technology, which for me is a real innovation. On my plot of land, I explained how to develop the land while considering the direction of rainwater," says Abdourahim with pride.

Smart Valleys combines proven agricultural techniques with modern technologies to optimise the use of natural resources and increase the productivity of rice fields. The focus is on developing flood valleys by building dykes, canals and drainage systems to control water and improve soil fertility.

One of the major advantages of this technology is the efficient management of water and seed: “Before, I used to sow rice by throwing the seed onto the plain. For one hectare, I needed 50 kg of seed, and the yield was around 3 Tons. With the Smart Valleys Techology, I start with a nursery and do the transplanting in the trays that have been made. I use less seed, around 5 kg per hectare, for a harvest of almost 6 Tons per hectare. It’s beneficial,” explains Abdourahim, happy to have mastered this production technique.

Another site, another experience with Mrs Affi Koutèma, a rice grower in the canton of Yaloumbè in the prefecture of Blitta, in the central region of Togo, 260 km north of the city of Lomé. Like Abdourahim, Mrs Affi is a beneficiary of the training and applies the knowledge she has acquired to an area of 0.25 ha.

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In partnership with two other rice growers, she builds crates, manages rainwater and channels it, as well as planting seeds in rows. She is delighted to point out the changes in the way she produces rice: “Before, I sowed rice by broadcasting and that required 50 kg of seed for 1 hectare and a yield of 2 tonnes.  Today, with the smart valleys, as soon as you build the crates, the rest is easy to do and you use less seed. For one hectare, you use 4 to 5 kg of seed, and you can be sure of harvesting around 6 ha. I would like to sincerely thank the World Bank, ECOWAS and Togo’s Ministry of Agriculture for the multifaceted support provided to producers through FSRP”.

Smart Valleys Technology is part of a wider strategy for sustainable agricultural development in Togo, focusing on local solutions to improve food production and strengthen the resilience of communities in the face of climatic and economic challenges.