Launched on July 28th, the Yolim digital lending platform for Togolese farmers has already mobilized over FCFA5.5 billion (around $10 million). 

Every farmer registered on the platform has access to a credit e-wallet of FCFA96,000 which can be used to purchase fertilizers, pesticides, or rent tractors. According to the minister of the digital industry, Cina Lawson, more than 57,000 farmers are already registered on the platform. 

The official further noted, concerning the funds available for the farmers, that “this is not money that can be withdrawn physically. The loan is a coupon that can be used in specific places.” She then added that “at the moment we have 210 partnering suppliers across the country where farmers can make purchases using these coupons.” 

The loans, it should be noted, are interest-free. 

Séna Akoda

Yesterday, July 27th, the University of Lomé (UL) and Cimtogo signed a partnership under which the former will develop industrial courses to meet the demand of the cement market, while the latter is to take as interns engineers and researchers who graduate from the academy. 

As part of the win-win partnership, the UL will also assist the company in researching alternative materials that can be used to make quality cement.  

Addressing Cimtogo during the signing ceremony, Dodzi Kokoroko, chairman of the university declared: “...You are building cities and even countries but at the University of Lomé, we are building the men and women of tomorrow. It was therefore obvious for our paths to meet.” 

Cimtogo, let it be noted, has supported the UL on various projects. These include Quarry Life, which is a program that rewards the university’s best students and researchers with projects aimed at improving biodiversity. The firm also granted the university €10,000 to fight the coronavirus. 

Séna Akoda

In the 2020-2021 agricultural campaign, the State will distribute 15,000 irrigation kits starting from November this year. This should guarantee food and nutritional security for rural households, by considerably boosting the country’s agricultural output. 

The equipment should indeed enable rural farmers cultivate their crops off-season. Its provision falls under the government’s Covid-19 response launched when the pandemic broke out in the country.

This response is currently being revised by the authorities to take into account current needs arising in various sectors, including agriculture. In effect, new amendments to the response aim mostly at boosting farmers’ earnings, improving their access to massive input kits and improving their living standards. 

Let’s recall that Togo eyes for the current agricultural campaign the following outputs: around two million tons of corn, over 330,000 tons of rice, nearly 140,000 t of soybeans and 225,000 t of cotton. 

Towards achieving these goals, a digital platform was set with some private firms (selected following a tender) to efficiently support farmers in the process. 

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

“From now on, the billing of import container delivery will be done only online.” The information was disclosed by Togo Terminal, a subsidiary of Bolloré Transports & Logistics in Togo. 

While urging economic operators who are yet to have created their online account for import transactions, Togo Terminal emphasized that no direct delivery of import containers would be processed at its billing desks. 

However, online billing is not applicable to VAT-exempted importers. The latter will continue their transactions related to import containers at Ecobank. 

The reform which aims at improving the business climate should also speed up billing procedures while reducing physical contact. 

Séna Akoda

Togo’s public procurement regulatory organ (ARMP) will build in Lomé a center to provide training related to public contracts. 

The project aims at fostering economic performance by efficiently managing public procurements, and enhance skill development relative to the procurements. 

The upcoming training centre will offer certified courses in various areas related to public contracts and their regulation. 

Séna Akoda

This year, Togo will receive about XOF3 billion from the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI). The latter is a US security scheme that aims to reinforce peace worldwide (through the United Nations). 

The funds will benefit the army’s training centre for peace operations in Lomé. In detail, about $1.6 million will improve the centre’s facilities, $3.3 million will be spent on equipment and the remaining $580,000 will be invested in the training. 

The works regarding the facilities have already been started and were recently checked on by the US ambassador to Togo, Eric Stromayer.

The financing should also help military personnel dispatched across the globe for peace operations to better prepare. At the moment, around 1,500 Togolese soldiers are deployed worldwide by the UN. 

Ayi Renaud Dossavi