In a world grappling with a global crisis, agriculture and food security play a crucial role in the survival of populations in certain regions of Africa.
Unfortunately, over 41 million people in West and Central Africa already suffer from severe food and nutrition insecurity.
Access to food poses a major challenge for the most vulnerable populations, primarily due to the significant increase in prices of staple food commodities.
Among the factors contributing to this alarming situation, the significant rise in fertilizer prices occupies a central position. In recent months, fertilizer prices, along with commodity and energy prices, have skyrocketed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising global transportation costs, and geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in Ukraine. Additionally, climate change and the lack of mechanization in farming further exacerbate the situation.
Soil health and proper fertilizer use play a crucial role both in the problem and the solution to this food crisis.
The link between access to fertilizers, soil degradation, and declining agricultural yields creates a vicious cycle of impoverishment.
It is imperative to break this cycle of poverty as the agricultural sector represents a significant share of employment, directly or indirectly, in many African countries. Therefore, increasing local agricultural productivity is essential to kickstart the economic transformation of West Africa.
Ranked 99th out of 113 countries in terms of food security according to the Global Food Security Index 2022, Togo faces a high prevalence of undernourishment (severe food insecurity in the population) at 18.8%.
With its 3.6 million hectares of arable land, accounting for 60% of its total area, agriculture plays a crucial role in the Togolese economy, contributing 40% to the country’s GDP and employing nearly 65% of the active population.
Recognizing this reality, the Togolese government has placed the agricultural sector at the core of its actions, with a clear vision expressed in its roadmap for 2025.
The vision for the agricultural sector is to make Togolese agriculture “productive, high value-added, driving economic value for farmers and countrywide growth.”
The objectives of this roadmap are ambitious and include:
(i) improving agricultural productivity and yields,
(ii) ensuring food security in Togo,
(iii) strengthening agri-food processing industries and promoting high-value agriculture,
(iv) enhancing access to financing and markets for farmers.
The operational indicators include mapping and consolidating land, achieving annual productivity gains of 8% to 10%, and increasing the trade balance to over 120 billion FCFA.
In this regard, the Togolese government has recently taken concrete measures to support the agricultural sector, including:
– As part of the 2022-2023 agricultural campaign, the government announced the purchase of 76,000 tons of fertilizers. To mitigate the impact of rising prices on farmers, a subsidy of 17 billion CFA francs has been implemented. The 50 kg bag of fertilizer, subsidized at 13,000 CFA francs, is thus made available to farmers at a price of 18,000 CFA francs, according to government data.
– Togo has allocated 13 billion CFA francs to food security in 2023. This amount, representing 25% of the total budget allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture for the year 2023, is included in the budget bill. In addition to stimulating local production, these funds will enable the Togolese Food Security Agency to maintain its policy of purchasing and storing cereals.
– In partnership with NutriSource, a Singaporean group led by Murari Rakshit, Togolese authorities have launched a fertilizer production plant. The objective is to achieve an annual production of 200,000 tons of NPK fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) at the Adétikopé industrial platform.
– As part of the resilience programs for the food system in West Africa, in collaboration with the World Bank, Togo is committed to increasing agricultural productivity through the adoption of climate-smart technologies, promoting intra-regional value chains, and strengthening agricultural risk management capacities. The actions undertaken include securing 34,000 tons of fertilizers for over 100,000 farmers, including 25,000 women, for the 2023-2024 campaign. Furthermore, specific training has been initiated for 3,000 farmers operating in the Planned Agricultural Development Zones (ZAAP) in southern Togo through agroecological farm schools. This training aims to enhance the sustainability of production systems in ZAAPs and the resilience of beneficiary households.
It is encouraging to see that some governments, like Togo, have recognized the importance of food security and have taken concrete measures to address it. By supporting agriculture, ensuring access to fertilizers, investing in agricultural productivity, and strengthening the capacities of farmers, these governments demonstrate their commitment to ensuring food security for their populations.
Food insecurity in Africa remains a major challenge that requires continuous attention and action from governments. The current crisis, exacerbated by the surge in prices of basic food commodities and environmental pressures, jeopardizes the lives of millions of people in the region.
It is crucial for other governments to follow this example and implement similar policies and measures to combat food insecurity. Food security can only be achieved through a holistic and sustainable approach that integrates long-term solutions to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems, improve sustainable farming practices, and promote equitable access to resources and markets. Collective commitment and concerted action from governments and the private sector ecosystem will overcome the challenges of food insecurity in Africa and ensure a safer and more prosperous future for all.