Togo opens regional mechanization center to boost farm productivity

Agriculture

Friday, 24 April 2026 10:27

Togo opens regional mechanization center to boost farm productivity

(Togo First) - Togo officially launched the Regional Agricultural Mechanization Center (CRMA) in Tové on Thursday. Located in the Plateaux region, the facility was inaugurated by National Assembly Speaker Komi Sélom Klassou during celebrations marking the country’s 66th independence anniversary.

The Tové CRMA is designed to serve the western part of the Plateaux region. It provides a range of services, including agricultural mechanization, farm input supply, soil testing via a mobile lab, logistics services, and technical training and support programs for farmers.

The center is expected to eventually benefit more than 600,000 producers. It aims to meet growing demand in a rapidly changing sector, with goals that include increasing yields, reducing manual labor, and fostering a more competitive agricultural industry.

The Tové CRMA is the result of a partnership between the Togolese government and Moroccan group OCP, the world’s leading phosphate producer. The project stems from agreements signed between the two parties in May 2023, aimed at improving farmers’ access to essential services.

For Hajar Alafifi, chief executive of OCP Africa, the initiative reflects South-South cooperation. “This project demonstrates a collaboration built on sharing expertise and implementing practical solutions to support agricultural development in Africa,” she said.

Designed as a technology hub, the CRMA offers five main services: agricultural equipment rental, mechanization services, the sale of machinery and spare parts, training and maintenance, and the supply of fertilizers tailored to local soils. The model is intended to be replicated across the country’s other economic regions. A similar center in the Kara region is set to be inaugurated on Friday, April 25, in Tchitchao.

Esaïe Edoh

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.