The present project is located in the district of Goubi, a farming zone (100% of the population) in the North of Togo. In this zone there are more than 4500 market gardeners, among which more than 2200 female growers. Market gardeners produce mainly crops such as spinach (gboma), kerria (adémè), cabbage, carrots, lettuce, peppers, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and beets. About 99% of the market gardeners in this zone use chemical fertilizers and hazardous pesticides for pest control. This abusive use of synthesis chemical pesticides leads to a decrease of agricultural productivity. This project aims to strengthen the position of market gardeners in the district of Goubi (North of Togo) and to avoid the misuse of toxic pesticides in order to increase the income of the households and to create a healthy environment. This project aims to strengthen the position of market gardeners in the district of Goubi (North of Togo) and to avoid the misuse of toxic pesticides in order to increase the income of the households and to create a healthy environment. Objectives: The proposed project has four main objectives: 1) To collect and analyse data on soil, water and insects in the project zone 2) To sensitize local communities on the impact of the abusive use of hazardous pesticide for pest control 3) To train and coach 2000 vegetable growers on integrated pest control management system 4) To associate 2000 vegetable growers in a professional network able to mobilize technical, commercial and political support for the promotion of their activities. Expected outcomes Concretely the following results are foreseen after the project has been finalised (duration 3 years); - Existence of reliable data on the market-gardening production in Togo - 2000 market-gardeners know the impact of the use of hazardous chemicals and use biopesticides, the compost and the natural techniques for conservation of their products. - The protocols of tests are elaborate, the pilot project of integrated pest management (IMP) and/or biological vegetable growing are installed and are operational - 2000 market-gardeners are organized in the association of vegetable growing farmers in a professional organization, able to mobilize technical, commercial and political support.

Project Results

The beneficiaries are vegetable growing farmers in the district of Goubi which comprises four villages on which more than 2000 vegetable growing are noted. The needs of the vegetable growing farmers were identified during a field study carried out jointly by ANCE and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lomé. ANCE is a network organisation of 16 affiliated member organizations working on sustainable land through CSO’s since 1999. ANCE is responsible for local project implementation and technical assistance to farmers. Candidates for subcontracting are the University of Lomé and the National Institute for Agricultural Research (ITRA) for seed providing, water, pest control and soil analysis and assist ANCE on training to farmers through field schools on some aspects of integrated pest management control system. The Vegetable Growing Farmer Association (VGFO) which will be established at the end of the project will become a real partner for project sustainability by providing technical assistance, coordination, marketing to farmers. The farmers (800 farmers) will be trained and coached on integrated pest control system by farmer field school. Local CBOs, NGOs and journalists will be involved in the project and will have also their capacities strengthened on integrated pest control system by farmer field school. Added value of the project The proposes action contributes to the implementation of the National Agricultural Action Plan adopted in November 2006 by the Government of Togo, stressing the need for sustainable agriculture in Southern Togo. The EU strategy paper on West Africa emphasises the urgency of cooperation between agricultural actors in order to guarantee food security in the region. By promoting organic methods with local plants available free of charge, the market gardeners will get a surplus of euros USD 600 per hectare annually (cost of pesticides per year). Also, the use of pesticides reduces the fertility of the soil and causes the development of ravagers. More pesticides are used, more the productivity becomes low. Then, the promotion of integrated pest management system will increase the productivity by 40%. Another positive impact is the conservation of environment (no more pollution of water, soil and biodiversity) and protection of market gardeners health (no intoxication related to pesticides used). The rate of poverty which is currently 88% in this zone will decrease to 50% at the end of the project. Contributions to Sustainable Development: Environmental sustainability is realized by promoting sustainable pest control in market gardening. By avoiding the misuse of prohibited pesticides such as DDT, Lindane and Endosulfan the toxic effect on the health of market gardeners (pesticides are directly mixed in freshwater bodies or watering cans) will be decreased. Institutional sustainability is based on the 20 networks to be established under this project. Economic sustainability is realised by increasing the knowledge of alternative organic methods which will decrease the use of expensive chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Less inputs, better prices for organic cultivated vegetables and a strengthened position on vegetable markets in Lomé has a sustainable effect on the income of households. Social sustainability is based upon the assumption that the action alters agricultural practices by the introduction of organic cultivated vegetables. Organic production practices will be continued after the end of the project, and even replicated by other gardeners, because of better prices and less financial inputs.