Empowering youth in Togo through agribusiness startups

Kpomé, 3 August 2026 — In a nation where youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, authorities in Togo are shifting gears by equipping young people with the tools to become rural entrepreneurs. In Kpomé, located in the Maritime region, fifty young beneficiaries have just reached a pivotal milestone by receiving start-up kits to launch farming and livestock ventures.

This equipment handover, officiated on 20 July by Dotsè Medjina, Secretary General of the Maritime region’s Governorship, represents the culmination of a three-month vocational training program focused on high-potential agropastoral trades.

Beyond training: Immediate access to start-up tools

A common hurdle in youth employment programs is the gap between skills acquisition and practical implementation. Many young people complete training but lack the capital to launch their own businesses.

In Kpomé, this gap has been bridged. Upon completing their training, participants received comprehensive starter packs including tractors, water pumps, sprayers, seeds, fertilizers, digital scales, fencing wire, irrigation and water storage equipment, wheelbarrows, and construction materials. The goal is clear: enable new farmers to begin operations immediately without waiting for additional funding.

Agropastoral ventures take center stage in rural job creation

The fifty beneficiaries have been trained in key sectors identified for rural development: vegetable farming, poultry, small ruminant rearing, and pig production. By providing tailored equipment, authorities aim not only to boost youth financial independence but also to strengthen local production and invigorate rural economies.

A strategic investment in accountability and sustainability

During the ceremony, Dotsè Medjina underscored the responsibility that comes with this support. He urged beneficiaries to manage their new resources with care to ensure profitability and long-term viability. He called on the young participants to embrace their role as drivers of economic progress in their communities.

National roadmap for Togolese food sovereignty

This initiative is part of the “Vocational Training and Professional Integration Support” program, launched in 2025 by the National Employment Agency (ANPE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Resources, and Food Sovereignty. The program reflects Togo’s commitment to move beyond theoretical training toward a job creation strategy centered on income-generating activities.

The focus on agropastoral enterprises highlights this vision, aiming to cultivate a new generation of young producers capable of transforming skills into sustainable businesses and contributing to the country’s long-term food self-sufficiency.