TOGO: The government hands over agricultural materials and equipment to cooperatives
The Ministry responsible for Social Action, with the financial support of UNDP, held a ceremony on December 7, 2023, in Lomé, where agricultural materials and equipment were distributed to groups and cooperatives from the 39 prefectures of Togo.
This support in agricultural production materials and equipment falls within the framework of implementing the Rural Women Empowerment Project in Togo (PAFeRT). It aims to fulfill the priority needs of women and increase the output of their activities, while making agriculture one of the drivers of inclusive development.
In Togo, despite their remarkable commitment to the agricultural production chain, rural women remain marginalized in terms of compensation and benefitting from the fruits of their labor. This is evident in the disparities analysis of the National Policy for Equity and Gender Equality (PNEEG), where agriculture involves 72% of the active population, out of which 53% are women compared to 46.5% men. Recognizing this situation, the government has invested in rural women and aims to capitalize on their potential to reduce the challenges they face on a daily basis.
In line with this strategy, the Ministry responsible for Social Action, Women’s Protection, and Literacy distributed materials and equipment to agricultural groups and cooperatives across various prefectures of Togo on December 7, 2023, in Lomé. The objective is to contribute to gender equality in the agricultural sector and transform Togo’s agriculture into a highly productive and value-added sector.
Valued at a total cost of 100 million CFA francs, this set of equipment includes tricycles, egg incubators, cassava graters, motorized spice mills, palm kernel crushers, soybean threshers, among others. The beneficiaries, comprising 78 women’s groups and cooperatives, represent the 39 prefectures of Togo, with 2 groups per prefecture.
During the event, the Minister responsible for Social Action, Mrs. Adjovi Lolonyo Apédoh-Anakoma, expressed that a nation’s prosperity stems from the combined efforts of all sectors of society, including rural women who possess significant assets. Regrettably, she noted that these assets have so far been underutilized due to socio-cultural constraints. She highlighted, «Recognizing these requirements and being aware that investing in rural women and girls holds great promise for achieving gender equality objectives, the government, under the leadership of the Head of State, has taken measures and initiated major actions».
