Kpomé, August 3, 2026 — In a climate where securing employment remains a significant hurdle for young Togolese, authorities are now embracing a more direct strategy: empowering trained individuals to become self-sufficient rural entrepreneurs. In Kpomé, located within the Maritime region, fifty young people have just reached a crucial milestone, receiving the essential equipment needed to immediately launch their agricultural and livestock ventures.
This distribution of materials, which took place on July 20 under the guidance of Dotsè Medjina, Secretary-General of the Maritime Regional Governorate and representative of the Governor, marks the successful conclusion of a three-month professional training program focused on high-potential agropastoral trades.
Training is not enough: the choice of immediate material provision
A common hurdle in youth integration programs often arises after training concludes. Many young people acquire valuable skills but lack the essential capital to kickstart their own ventures.
In Kpomé, this conventional approach has been redefined. Following their training, beneficiaries are now equipped with a comprehensive startup kit, including essential items such as power tillers, motor pumps, sprayers, seeds, fertilizers, electronic scales, rolls of fencing, irrigation and water storage equipment, wheelbarrows, and various construction materials.
The clear objective is to enable these new producers to commence their operations immediately, eliminating the need to wait for additional funding.
Agropastoralism as a key driver for rural job creation
The fifty beneficiaries have been thoroughly prepared to operate in several sectors deemed vital 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 the region.
A strategic investment emphasizing diligence and accountability
During the ceremony, Dotsè Medjina underscored the significant responsibility that accompanies this equipment provision. He urged the beneficiaries to utilize the tools with utmost diligence to ensure the profitability and long-term viability of their agricultural operations.
Furthermore, he called upon these young individuals to fully embrace their roles and emerge as active contributors to the economic development of their local communities.
A national strategy for Togolese food sovereignty
This initiative forms a core component of the « Formation-métier et accompagnement à l’insertion professionnelle » project, originally launched in 2025 by the National Employment Agency (ANPE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Resources, and Food Sovereignty.
Through this program, Togo aims to move beyond purely theoretical training, instead building an employment policy more focused on creating sustainable, income-generating activities. The strategic choice of the agropastoral sector highlights this direction, with the overarching goal of cultivating a new generation of young producers capable of transforming their newly acquired skills into thriving businesses and making a lasting contribution to the nation’s food sovereignty.