Togo: The State makes official its commitment to a prosperous and sustainable African coffee industry

At the beginning of April 2024, Togo took a decisive step for its coffee sector by officially submitting its Instrument of Acceptance of the Inter-African Coffee Organisation (IACO) 2020 Agreement. This accession, which has been in the pipeline since May 2023, marks the country’s legal commitment to collective and sustainable governance of African coffee.

The decision has been hailed as a further step towards the continent’s economic sovereignty.

By signing this agreement in Abidjan, Togo is joining pan-African efforts to structure and develop the coffee sector.

The Secretary General of the IACO, Solomon Rutega, welcomed the move, seeing it as a strong political will on the part of Lomé to boost its agriculture.

Membership will enable the country to better coordinate its actions with other member states, gain access to financing and improve the quality of its production.

Togo’s ambitions are clear: to produce 50,000 tonnes of coffee a year by 2030, up from 27,336 tonnes in 2023.

This progress is based on a clear improvement over the past decade, with production more than doubling since 2013 (10,950 tonnes).

According to Enselme Gouthon, Secretary General of the Coordination Committee for the Coffee and Cocoa Sectors (CCFCC), this membership is part of a national strategy to revive agriculture and boost the competitiveness of Togolese coffee.

By joining the IACO, Togo is committing itself to common standards to make African coffee more competitive on the world market. This initiative will promote intra-African trade, agricultural innovation and better remuneration for producers.

Togo’s accession to the IACO 2020 Agreement is much more than an administrative formality: it is the sign of a renewed determination to make Togolese coffee one of Africa’s leading products.

Thanks to strengthened regional cooperation and an ambitious vision, the country is positioning itself as a key player in tomorrow’s agriculture.

Chantal TAWELESSI