Togo

Togo is a narrow West African country located on the Gulf of Guinea, bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. It stretches from a small coastal plain in the south to savanna landscapes in the north, covering an area of about 56,800 square kilometers. The country is geographically diverse despite its small size, featuring coastal lagoons and sandy beaches, the central Togo Mountains (including Mount Agou, the highest point), and northern plains that transition into the Sudanian savanna zone. Togo has a tropical climate in the south with higher rainfall, while the north experiences a drier climate with a single rainy season. This north–south climatic gradient strongly influences vegetation, agriculture, and settlement patterns.

Agriculture is the backbone of Togo’s economy and employs a large share of the population, especially in rural areas. Farming is mostly small-scale and rain-fed, with a strong reliance on traditional methods. The main food crops include maize, sorghum, millet, cassava, yams, and rice. These crops are cultivated across different ecological zones depending on rainfall and soil conditions. Cash crops also play an important role in export earnings, particularly cotton, which is one of Togo’s most important agricultural exports. Other cash crops include coffee and cocoa, mainly grown in the southern forested regions. Livestock farming, including cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry, contributes to food security and rural incomes, especially in the northern savanna areas where pastoralism is more common.
Forestry resources in Togo are found mainly in the central and southern regions, where vegetation is denser and rainfall is higher. The country’s natural forests include woodland savannas, semi-deciduous forests, and mangrove ecosystems along the coast. These forests provide timber, fuelwood, medicinal plants, and non-timber forest products that are essential for rural livelihoods. Important tree species include iroko, mahogany, teak (in plantations), and various acacia species. However, forest cover in Togo has declined significantly due to agricultural expansion, fuelwood demand, charcoal production, and population pressure. Deforestation and land degradation have become serious environmental concerns. In response, reforestation programs, agroforestry practices, and protected forest reserves have been introduced to restore vegetation and improve environmental sustainability.

The fishery sector in Togo is relatively small but important for coastal communities and food security. The country has a short Atlantic coastline, as well as lagoon and inland water systems that support fishing activities. Fisheries are mainly artisanal, with small-scale fishers operating canoes and simple gear. Common fish species include tilapia, sardines, mackerel, and various lagoon fish species. Inland fisheries are also practiced in rivers, reservoirs, and wetlands, contributing to local diets. However, the sector faces challenges such as overfishing, pollution (especially in coastal and lagoon areas), limited infrastructure, and climate variability affecting fish stocks. Aquaculture is gradually developing as a way to supplement declining wild catches and improve fish supply.

Overall, Togo’s geography, shaped by its north–south ecological variation and coastal location, supports a mix of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. These sectors remain central to rural livelihoods and the national economy. However, environmental degradation, deforestation, and climate change pressures highlight the importance of sustainable resource management to ensure long-term food security and ecological balance.

In 2015 Gerold spent three days in Togo, Lome, talking to my colleagues from the Green Innovation Centre about organic farming global projects.