Kpomé, 3 août 2026 — Addressing the persistent challenge of youth employment in Togo, authorities have adopted a pragmatic strategy: transforming trained individuals into thriving rural entrepreneurs. In Kpomé, situated within the Maritime region, fifty young people have successfully completed a pivotal phase, receiving essential equipment to immediately commence their agricultural and livestock activities.
This crucial equipment distribution, held on July 20 and presided over by Dotsè Medjina, the secretary general of the Maritime Region’s Governorship, acting on behalf of the governor, marks the culmination of an intensive three-month professional training program focused on high-potential agropastoral professions.
More than just training: the imperative of immediate material provision
A recurring hurdle in professional integration programs often emerges post-training: many young people acquire valuable skills but lack the essential capital to kickstart their ventures.
In Kpomé, this conventional approach has been redefined. Following their comprehensive training, beneficiaries are now equipped with a complete startup kit. This includes crucial tools such as motocultivators, motor pumps, sprayers, quality seeds, fertilizers, electronic scales, rolls of fencing, advanced irrigation and water storage systems, wheelbarrows, and various construction materials.
The clear objective is to empower these new producers to launch their operations without delay, bypassing the often-long wait for supplementary financing.
The agropastoral sector: a key driver for rural job creation
The fifty beneficiaries have been thoroughly prepared to operate in several sectors deemed strategic for rural development. The comprehensive program includes training in market gardening, poultry farming, raising small ruminants, and pig production.
By furnishing these young individuals with appropriate equipment, public authorities aim not only to foster their financial independence but also to bolster local production and invigorate rural economies across Togo.
Strategic investment: emphasizing diligence and accountability
During the distribution ceremony, Dotsè Medjina underscored the significant responsibility that accompanies this endowment. He urged the beneficiaries to utilize the equipment with utmost diligence to ensure the profitability and long-term sustainability of their new operations.
Furthermore, he called upon the young entrepreneurs to fully embrace their roles and emerge as proactive contributors to the economic development of their local communities.
A national strategy for Togo’s food sovereignty
This initiative is an integral component of the « Training-trade and support for professional integration » project, initially launched in 2025 by the National Agency for Employment (ANPE), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Resources, and Food Sovereignty.
Through this ambitious program, Togo aims to move beyond purely theoretical training. The goal is to forge an employment policy more directly oriented towards creating sustainable, income-generating activities. The strategic focus on the agropastoral sector exemplifies this direction, with the ultimate ambition of fostering a new generation of young producers capable of transforming their skills into viable enterprises and making a lasting contribution to the nation’s food sovereignty.
