Togo joins regional REWARD programme to cut rice import dependence

Agriculture

Wednesday, 18 February 2026 12:40

Togo joins regional REWARD programme to cut rice import dependence

(Togo First) - Togo is one of 14 West African countries included in the new REWARD-AfricaRice regional programme, launched in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, with support from the African Development Bank, the Africa Rice Center and ECOWAS.

The initiative has secured $8.5 million in funding over five years and aims to strengthen rice value chains and accelerate regional self-sufficiency.

The programme seeks to address persistent structural challenges. Average yields range between 2.2 and 2.5 tons per hectare, post-harvest losses reach up to 42%, and local production meets roughly 60% of demand. Import dependence remains high amid population growth, urbanisation and climate-related pressures on yields.

REWARD will distribute improved varieties, strengthen seed systems and introduce more efficient processing technologies. It also includes national seed roadmaps, training programmes and greater knowledge-sharing among participating countries. The goal is to raise average yields to nearly 7 tons per hectare over the medium term.

Projections suggest higher farm incomes, estimated at about $1,605 per producer compared with $1,385 currently, as well as the creation of 78,000 jobs, nearly half for women.

At the regional level, intra-regional rice trade could reach 250,000 tons, helping reduce imports and deepen agricultural market integration in West Africa.

In Togo, the initiative comes as rice plays a growing role in the national diet, while the sector continues to face structural bottlenecks. Production, dominated by lowland rice (55%) and rainfed rice (34%), remains limited despite favourable agroecological conditions, reflecting weak infrastructure management and limited access to quality inputs. In 2020, national output stood at around 153,000 tons, meeting only part of domestic demand and leaving the country heavily reliant on imports, which exceeded 43 billion CFA francs in 2023, more than half of consumption.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.