Togo: President Faure Gnassingbé commits to healthier, environmentally-friendly agriculture

Growing concerns related to the use of pesticides in agriculture resonate with the actions taken by President Faure Gnassingbé to enhance the management of these potentially harmful substances. The Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources has announced the launch of an ambitious project titled «Support Project for the Efficient Management of Pesticides», with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

This two-year project, covering the entire country, aims primarily to improve the use of pesticides while minimizing their negative effects on human, animal, and environmental health.

The initiative aligns with an overarching vision to promote more sustainable and biodiversity-friendly agriculture.

The project coordinator, Essolakina Bafei, detailed some key actions of the program.

He explained that the project will establish five school gardens dedicated to vegetable farming in various regions of the country.

These school gardens will serve as platforms to promote the use of biopesticides, providing environmentally friendly alternatives.

In the long term, the project commits to developing alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides.

This approach aims to encourage more sustainable agricultural practices, fully integrating environmental and public health concerns.

By fostering research and the development of alternative solutions, the country aspires to reduce its reliance on potentially hazardous pesticides.

President Faure Gnassingbé and his government reaffirm their commitment to more responsible agriculture.

The «Support Project for the Efficient Management of Pesticides» marks a significant step toward a more thoughtful use of pesticides, promoting the preservation of human, animal, and environmental health.

Chantal TAWELESSI