Empowering Smallholder Farmers in Togo through Contract Farming with SITRAPAT

©SITRAPAT: A visit to the 4-ha fieldin Pangouda - Producers discussing with SITRAPAT team the impact of the improved maize varieties: DK818, DK777 & TZPB.

For many smallholder farmers in Togo, maize production once meant hard work with little reward. Yields were low, post-harvest losses were high, and markets were uncertain. Today, that reality is changing.

Through the support of the Agri-Business Facility for Africa’s Matching Grant Fund (MGF) and in partnership with SITRAPAT, farmers are now accessing quality inputs, adopting improved techniques, and securing reliable buyers for their harvests.

Meeting Farmers Where They Are
In September 2025, a monitoring mission visited nine cooperatives across Tchamba, Kéran, and Mango. Together, these smallholder groups represent more than 1,000 hectares of maize under contract farming with SITRAPAT. Beyond inspecting fields, the mission focused on strengthening cooperative capacity, providing training in good agricultural practices, and encouraging financial management through microfinance institutions, helping farmers secure and grow their incomes.

The producers in the cooperative cultivate Mastrop and DK7500 visited a 6-hectare plot and exchange with SITRAPAT on contract farming and good cultural practices.

Smallholders as Business Partners
The initiative is shifting mindsets. Farmers now see themselves as business partners, not aid recipients. With guaranteed markets, they no longer fear unsold harvests, while SITRAPAT secures a reliable supply of quality maize. Women and youth within cooperatives are also seizing new opportunities, seeing farming as a viable path to economic empowerment.

Results in the Fields
The impact is already visible. Yields are rising, post-harvest losses are shrinking, and farmers are adopting improved cultivation techniques with confidence. Regular follow-up from SITRAPAT’s technical agents provides reassurance and motivates farmers to keep improving.

Visit to a 2-ha field as part of the Solidarity cooperative (50 ha in total) and discussions focused on expected returns and the strengthening of the contractual partnership.

“Before, I was farming without knowing how to win,” said Tagnami Kossi of the Sinambre cooperative. “Since working with SITRAPAT, improved techniques and inputs have made a big difference. I lose less and earn more because I have a market with SITRAPAT.”

“I really appreciate the regular follow-up of SITRAPAT agents,” added Gnamon Faou from the Ossinda cooperative. “This partnership reassures us. We know our production will be bought, and we are not alone.”

Building a Sustainable Future
The monitoring mission confirmed that contract farming is reshaping agriculture in Togo. By combining technical coaching, quality inputs, and guaranteed markets, farmers are achieving higher yields, securing steady incomes, and regaining confidence.

Building Futures Through Joint Action
These achievements are made possible through the Matching Grant Fund (MGF), part of the Joint Action “Business Support Facility for Resilient Agricultural Value Chains.” The initiative is co-funded by the European Union under the Samoa Agreement with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ.