Togo ramps up soil health efforts to support farmers and improve yields

TOGO – The Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health in West Africa and the Sahel is helping farmers in Togo tackle falling crop yields and declining soil fertility through science-based farming practices.

Launched in 2024 and hosted at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria, the Hub brings together several partners including IFDC, OCP Africa, APNI, UM6P, and the World Bank through the AICCRA project.

The initiative according to a feature in AFRICAN FARMING is focused on improving fertiliser use and making soil data more accessible across West Africa, with special attention to Togo.

“Farmers are the true beneficiaries of the work carried out by the Regional Hub,” said Adodo Abalo, IFDC’s Country Director in Togo.

“They will learn how to promote and maintain soil fertility and enhance their skills in soil health management. This knowledge will enable them to boost productivity without disrupting the nutrient balance or accelerating soil degradation.”

A detailed review by the Hub has highlighted key weaknesses in Togo’s Soil Information System (SIS). It found that soil data was scattered, the national platform FertiTogo was underused, and soil laboratories at ITRA and the University of Lomé lacked essential capacity.

This review laid the foundation for a targeted action plan and the rollout of Nutrient Omission Trials (NOTs).

These trials, already started in three locations, are designed to find out which nutrients the soil truly needs. This makes fertiliser use more efficient and cuts waste.

“This is vital for Togo’s agricultural transformation because it will help the country recommend appropriate fertiliser formulas for different soils and ensure that information on soil health management is readily available at any time and at a low cost for farmers,” said Abalo.

IFDC leads the Hub’s work in Togo and is the main link between the government and other players. The Ministry of Agriculture and ITRA, both central to the country’s farming system, are supporting the initiative directly.

“Having the government and research institutions support the interventions of the Regional Hub is key to our success. Promoting such collaboration is a major factor in the success of the Regional Hub’s activities in Togo,” Abalo added.

The Hub aims to build long-lasting solutions by training local teams and improving access to reliable soil data. This data will also connect to a wider regional system, helping partners better support farming improvements and food security.

By focusing on local skills and structures, the initiative is ensuring that farmers will continue to benefit even after the project ends.

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