Togo recorded cereal surpluses of 70,000 tonnes in 2019

12 Mai 2020

Lomé, Togo, May 12 (Infosplusgabon) - Togo recorded cereal surpluses estimated at 70,000 tonnes for the agricultural campaign last year,  Infosplusgabon learned on Tuesday in Lomé from sources close to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The cereal surpluses were derived from corn, local rice, sorghum, millet, among others.

However, the country, which for several years has been selling its surpluses to neighboring countries and to the World Food Program (WFP), wants to build up a security stock through the National Food Security Agency (ANSAT) and avoid a shortage on the local market, according to the sources.

Togo's agricultural sector employs almost 70% of the working population and contributes 38% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The sources said "For several years, the government has set up the Incentive Mechanism for Agricultural Financing (MIFA)," created to finance the agricultural sector through guarantees from financial institutions.

In early May, 72 tractors, purchased by the government, were distributed to farmers to enable them start the 2020-2021 crop year. The tractors were worth 1.8 billion CFA francs.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/GVB/GABON2020

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