Kpomé, August 3, 2026 — For Togo’s young population, securing employment remains a significant hurdle. In response, authorities are implementing a pragmatic strategy: converting trained individuals into thriving rural entrepreneurs. In Kpomé, situated in the Maritime region, fifty young people have just taken a crucial step forward, receiving essential equipment to immediately launch their agricultural and livestock ventures.

This critical equipment distribution, presided over by Dotsè Medjina, the Secretary General of the Maritime Regional Governorate, on July 20, marks the successful conclusion of a three-month vocational training program. The curriculum specifically targeted high-growth professions within the agropastoral sector.

Training is not enough: the choice of immediate material equipment 

One of the persistent challenges in many youth integration programs lies in the post-training phase. Often, young individuals acquire valuable skills but lack the essential capital to initiate their own ventures.

In Kpomé, this conventional approach has been reimagined. Following their intensive training, beneficiaries are now leaving with a comprehensive startup kit. This includes vital tools such as power tillers, motor pumps, sprayers, high-quality seeds, fertilizers, electronic scales, rolls of fencing, advanced irrigation and water storage systems, wheelbarrows, and various construction materials.

The core objective is to empower these new producers to commence their operations without delay, bypassing the need to secure additional financing.

Agropastoral sector as a major new lever for rural job creation 

The fifty beneficiaries have been meticulously prepared to operate in several sectors deemed strategically vital for rural development. The comprehensive program encompasses market gardening, poultry farming, the breeding of small ruminants, and pig production.

By providing these young individuals with appropriate equipment, the public authorities aim not only to foster their financial independence but also to bolster local production capacities and invigorate rural economies across Togo.

A strategic investment focused on diligence and accountability 

During the official ceremony, Dotsè Medjina underscored the significant responsibility that accompanies this endowment. He urged the beneficiaries to utilize the equipment with utmost diligence, emphasizing its crucial role in ensuring the profitability and long-term sustainability of their new operations.

Furthermore, he called upon the young entrepreneurs to fully embrace their roles and emerge as active contributors to the economic development of their respective communities.

A national strategy for Togolese food sovereignty 

This initiative forms an integral part of the « Formation-métier et accompagnement à l’insertion professionnelle » (Professional Training and Support for Professional Integration) project. This ambitious program was launched in 2025 by the National Employment Agency (ANPE) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Resources, and Food Sovereignty.

Through this forward-thinking program, Togo is moving beyond purely theoretical training to forge an employment policy that prioritizes the establishment of income-generating activities. The strategic focus on the agropastoral sector exemplifies this direction, aiming to cultivate a new generation of young producers who can transform their acquired skills into viable enterprises, thereby making a lasting contribution to the nation’s food sovereignty.