Togo: Government reports on its actions to boost agriculture in the northern Kara region

Agriculture

Thursday, 20 April 2023 14:08

Togo: Government reports on its actions to boost agriculture in the northern Kara region

(Togo First) - The Togolese government recently released an update on its actions to develop agriculture in the Kara region (northern Togo). The data covers planned agricultural development zone (ZAAP), financing for farmers, infrastructural support, and output, among others.

The Kara region, authorities reported, houses 71 ZAAPs. And out of the region’s 76 cantons, 61 house at least one ZAAP.

The creation of agropoles and agro-parks, the development of agricultural land, and the promotion of agro-industry are some of the key actions taken by the Togolese authorities to boost agriculture in the Kara region.

According to the latest government data, 61 out of 76 cantons in the region have at least one planned agricultural development zone (ZAAP). This part of Togo has a total of 71 ZAAPs.

Financial support

Regarding financing, for the ongoing campaign, the government provided several loans to Kara’s farmers. For example, the farmers obtained a loan of CFA60 million through the ANSAT, and CFA1.8 billion through the National Fund for Inclusive Finance (Fonds National de la Finance Inclusive of FNFI in French).

Lomé also disbursed, as the campaign began, CFA120 million in credit to the farmers via the MIFA (which is a risk-sharing-based financing mechanism), and CFA504 million as part of the Agropole project.

Infrastructure

Kara has 106 agricultural storage warehouses and 7 processing units. Also, an agro-park is being built in the region.

As a result of the government’s opening-up strategy, 460 km of rural tracks have been built in Kara.

Output

Last year, Kara recorded an agricultural output of 680,602 t, compared to 658,011 t in 2021, thus up by 3.4%. Farmers in the region mostly grow food and cash crops.

In detail, the region produced 160,259 t of grains in 2022, 432,677 t of root crops and tubers, and 86,666 t of legumes and oilseeds.

Kara is the third-largest region in Togo. It is currently hosting the last stage of the Forum of Togolese agricultural producers (FOPAT). The event started on April 17 and closes today, April 20.

Esaïe Edoh

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