Togo: Family Farming Days launched to boost the resilience of family farms

Togo launched the first edition of the Family Farming Days (JAFaT) this Tuesday, a major initiative aimed at strengthening the central role of family farmers in building sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems. Led by the Togolese Coordination of Peasant and Agricultural Producer Organizations (CTOP), this three-day event is being held in Lomé until Thursday, August 28.

Far from being a mere celebration, the JAFaT aims to be a platform for reflection and dialogue on the critical issues facing the agricultural sector. The objective is to analyze the challenges facing family producers and formulate concrete recommendations for technical and financial partners.

Key themes discussed include access to land, mechanization, financing, market organization, and agricultural innovation. These discussions are expected to identify avenues for action to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of family farms, the pillar of the country's food security.

The president of the CTOP, Mr. Ayéfoumi Olou-Adara, underlined the ambition of the approach: "These days are intended to be a framework for exchanges on the major challenges of the sector, in order to analyze the issues and to reflect together on the way in which family producers, beyond their historical role of feeding the population, can contribute significantly to the economic growth of the country."

Recalling that family farming is based on farms managed by families who constitute the main workforce, he highlighted its essential role in production for households and local markets, through cereal crops, legumes, tubers, livestock and small market gardening.

The launch of JAFaT comes at a time when the Togolese government has already implemented several measures to support these farmers. Among the flagship initiatives are the Planned Agricultural Development Zones (ZAAP), regional mechanization centers, and the agricultural producers' forum. These tools explicitly aim to boost the productivity, sustainability, and resilience of family farms.

The Emissary