Togo gets an agency to promote creation and development of agropoles

Economic governance

Wednesday, 28 February 2018 12:43

Togo gets an agency to promote creation and development of agropoles

(Togo First) - By decree, Togo’s government just created the agency for the promotion and development of agropoles (APRODAT in French) during a council of ministers yesterday. This falls in line with the government’s objectives to boost agricultural sector by focusing on processing.

According to the statement by the ministers’ council, the new entity will improve private investments in agricultural firms, agribusiness and family farming, while giving priority to processing before exportation.

The move should also align with the government’s plan to achieve inclusive growth in the coming years, by creating sustainable jobs in agro-hubs and agricultural parks.

Moreover, to insure an effective management, the decree defines general framework for creation, development and management of agropoles as well as administration modalities for companies desiring to establish themselves in the sector.

“For a decade, agricultural programmes developed by government have helped Togo progress significantly. For example, outputs rose with surpluses often recorded, prices of agricultural commodities are stable while malnutrition and poverty are being reduced in rural areas,” said the statement.

In sight of this advancements, a total of CFA1,250 billion ($2.2 billion) private-public investments is expected in the agricultural sector over the next 10 years. This is in the framework of the PNIASSAN which is a scheme that aims to boost agricultural output in the country.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

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