Smallholder farmers in Togo are facing increasingly difficult environmental and climatic conditions, which negatively impact crop yields and threaten biodiversity. Many farmers resort to using chemical fertilisers, which adversely affect health and local flora, while escalating costs make these fertilizers increasingly unaffordable, threatening food security. With funding from REDAA, SCOOPS TIBI supported smallholders in Togo to develop more sustainable production methods that enable livelihoods to thrive while respecting nature.
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Credit: 2019 Alliance of Biodiversity International and CIAT/ Georgina Smith via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Between December 2022 and April 2023, REDAA has supported Societe Cooperative Simplifiee Tibi de Tchavade II (SCOOPS TIBI), a partner of the Forest and Farm Facility, to pilot a new project promoting the use of organic fertilisers and biopesticides among farmers based in Togo.
Through the creation of a network for the production and distribution of organic fertilisers and biopesticides on a large scale, SCOOPS TIBI supported smallholders in Togo to develop more sustainable production methods that enable people and nature to thrive. Partner farm schools were set up for the production and branding of the products, and training was provided on the use of the equipment and the process for creating the fertilisers and pesticides. The project also set up ‘Innovation test fields’ to provide a scientific basis to show the efficacy of the products versus their chemical alternatives. This was followed by a publicity campaign involving local radio broadcasts and video spots, newsletters, social media, and banners to promote awareness among farmers.
By providing training, increasing the availability of the products, and raising awareness, especially among young and female farmers, farmers were supported to increase their use of organic fertilisers and biopesticides, helping them to improve their agricultural yields whilst also contributing to the protection of local flora, soil quality, and the improvement of farmer’s means of subsistence, thus allowing people and nature to thrive together.
Through training, increased product availability, and targeted awareness campaigns, farmers were supported to increase their use of organic fertilisers and biopesticides. This assistance helped to improve agricultural yields, while also contributing to the preservation of local flora, enhancing soil quality, and improving food security.
Key outcomes
- The production methods employed during this project have made it possible for farm schools to produce organic compost in 21-28 days (which previously took up to 3 months), enabling farmers to access sustainable fertiliser and pesticides alternatives. Increased access has reduced dependency on chemical fertilisers and helped protect farmers from price increases associated with chemical fertilisers.
- An improved packaging and labelling system for organic fertilisers and biopesticides has been developed, along with the creation of a distribution point to increase the visibility of organic fertiliser and biopesticide in the area. Demand for the products has been so high that Scoops-Tibi have had to increase production. To date 1.5 tonnes of organic compost have been produced.
- 40% of project beneficiaries are women and a total of 15 women participated in the implementation of the various project activities.
Demonstrator project