Agriculture

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The agricultural sector in Togo is an important cornerstone of the national economy and a central element of the state strategy for economic development, poverty reduction and food security. However, the sectoral development potential is significantly limited by the desolate state of the rural infrastructure, in particular the rural road network. As part of the joint development cooperation program for rural development and agriculture, the planned FC measure improves the connection of rural businesses and households in the cotton, coffee and cocoa growing areas to input and sales markets, thereby increasing their economic performance. Households' access to health and education services will also increase, from which women in particular will benefit. According to updated planning, around 600 km of rural roads and tracks and associated structures in the growing areas will be renovated and their sustainable operation supported. Suitable construction work as well as manual maintenance work will be carried out as labor-intensively as possible with the involvement of the local rural population. The total cost of the project is based on the available funds of EUR 35.3 million (open program), with the German FC contribution amounting to a grant of EUR 17.0 million. The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is providing co-financing for additional slope rehabilitation in the cotton-growing areas as part of the Mutual Reliance Initiative (MRI) through a loan of EUR 10.0 million, with KfW acting as chef de file. The Togolese contribution of EUR 8.3 million will be used, among other things, for the maintenance of the rehabilitated slopes. Additional funds of EUR 20.0 million for an expansion of the program were subject to a stock check, of which EUR 10 million were pledged by KfW (financing agreement dated October 19, 2020). AFD participation as in the previous phase is planned. Slopes used.