Strengthening policy engagement to boost agricultural innovation in Togo

As part of efforts to assess the progress of the Zero Hunger Project in the region, IITA Director of Private Sector Partnerships, Dr Debo Akande, spearheaded a high-level engagement among IITA, AfricaRice, Togo’s Ministry of Agriculture, Village Water Resources, and Rural Development recently.

The meeting also focused on formulating a strategic policy framework to scale its successes through upcoming national and international initiatives, including the World Bank-supported agricultural transformation program.

Dr Akande, supported by experts from AfricaRice and IITA, outlined major strides in the Zero Hunger project’s implementation. One of the most notable achievements was the development of seed certification protocols for cassava, yam, and sweet potato. This development was Togo’s first ever developed protocols for these crops, and it was done in collaboration with the Ministry’s Seed Certification Directorate, Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique (ITRA), and Institut de Conseil et d’Appui Technique (ICAT). Capacity development of over 6,000 farmers in cassava and rice seed production contributed to improved productivity and the resilience of the seed system.

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