Togo Initiates Consultations for Upcoming Agricultural Insurance Program

Agriculture

Friday, 18 July 2025 13:38

Togo Initiates Consultations for Upcoming Agricultural Insurance Program

(Togo First) - In Lomé this week, Togo kicked off its journey toward building a national agricultural insurance system. Farmers, insurers, policymakers, and international partners came together for a two-day consultation designed to lay the groundwork for a new insurance model tailored to local realities.

The gathering, spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, marks the start of a participatory process aimed at co-creating a system that can shield Togolese farmers from climate volatility and economic uncertainty. The government’s intention is to translate farmers' and stakeholders’ input into a national action plan promoting index-based agricultural insurance.

“The contributions collected will serve to develop an action plan to promote index-based insurance in Togo,” the ministry stated following the session.

The future insurance framework is expected to play a pivotal role in improving farmers' financial resilience, protecting their income, and encouraging greater investment in agriculture. It will also support broader national goals such as strengthening food security and climate adaptation.

“Agricultural insurance plays a strategic role. It is not only a financial protection tool but also a lever for transformation. It encourages better practices, strengthens resilience, and facilitates smarter management of climate risks,” said Essiomilé Komi, Director of Planning, Agricultural Statistics, and Monitoring & Evaluation (DPSSE) at the ministry.

This project is being developed with backing from the Alliance Bioversity International & CIAT and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), two technical partners helping Togo transition toward a sovereign system.

Until now, Togo has relied primarily on insurance subscriptions to international companies. For the 2023–2024 agricultural season, the government allocated $1 million (more than CFA600 million) for a new sovereign insurance package. That initiative received critical support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), which contributed a subsidy of $500,000.

Esaïe Edoh

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