Togo’s cereal harvests set to rise as low prices squeeze agricultural incomes
Production is projected to reach 1,955,893 tonnes, an increase of 4.3 percent from the previous season and 25.2 percent above the five-year average, according to figures reported by Togo First.
TOGO – Cereal production is expected to rise 4.3% in the 2026/2027 agricultural season to about 1.96 million tonnes, as better harvest prospects boost food availability, but falling grain prices put pressure on farmers’ earnings.
According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), projected output is 25.2% above the five-year average, reflecting generally favourable crop development and improved seasonal conditions across much of the country.
The production outlook offers a positive signal for food security, with harvests from southern Togo’s bimodal rainfall zone already improving household food supplies and additional harvests expected in northern areas from October.
However, stronger production has not translated into higher agricultural incomes, as abundant supplies and weak market demand continue to weigh on cereal prices.
In September 2026, the average price of maize, Togo’s main staple cereal, stood at CFAF 155 per kilogram, 54% lower than a year earlier and 44% below the five-year average, according to FEWS NET.
Although lower prices improve affordability for consumers, they reduce the revenue farmers receive from selling their crops, particularly those who depend heavily on maize sales to finance household expenses and the next planting season.
The pressure is particularly significant in the Savanes Region, including the prefectures of Kpendjal and Kpendjal-Ouest, where insecurity continues to restrict access to farmland, markets and trading routes.
Displacement and disruptions to commercial activities further limit farmers’ ability to sell their produce.
Some vulnerable households remain exposed to acute food insecurity despite the arrival of new harvests.
To strengthen food availability and support agricultural producers, Togo’s National Food Security Agency (ANSAT) launched a new cereal purchasing campaign in October.
According to the official government portal, the agency began purchasing maize from farmers in the Savanes Region, collecting 1,022 tonnes from Bagré, Ogaro and Mandouri. Nationally, stocks identified for procurement totalled 12,841 tonnes, with a budget exceeding CFAF 2.6 billion (US$4.4M).
The purchases aim to replenish strategic food reserves, give farmers a market for their produce, and let the government release stocks when prices rise sharply.
Such interventions could help moderate market fluctuations while strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to food supply disruptions.
Nevertheless, improving farmers’ profitability will require more than increased production.
Better market access, reliable storage, stronger value chains and competitive outlets for locally produced cereals will be important to ensuring that higher harvest volumes translate into sustainable agricultural incomes.
Togo’s outlook therefore highlights a central challenge for agricultural development: maintaining affordable food supplies while ensuring that farmers receive sufficient returns to sustain production and invest in future seasons.
Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
