The Togolese parliament has adopted the agricultural orientation law in its first reading, with the aim of modernizing the sector and strengthening food sovereignty. The law, passed on October 22, 2026, in Lomé, seeks to bring about a structural transformation of the agricultural sector. The bill was voted on during the fourth plenary session of the second ordinary session, presided over by Pr Komi Selom Klassou.
The proposed law aims to provide a coherent legal framework for the agricultural sector, improve yields, ensure food security, promote local processing, facilitate access to financing and markets, and create jobs. It also addresses sustainable management of natural resources, adaptation to climate change, land security, and the professionalization of actors. The law proposes measures such as mechanization, irrigation, agricultural research, and capacity building for producers, particularly young people and women.
The law has been welcomed by lawmakers, with Aklesso Atcholi, president of the UNIR parliamentary group, hailing it as a lever for food security, producer incomes, and youth employment. He emphasized the need for better support for farmers, including facilitated access to financing and equipment, as well as fairer remuneration. Atcholi described the law as a long-term vision for Togolese agriculture, which he sees as a strategic heritage.
The government has expressed its commitment to implementing the law, with Minister of Agriculture Antoine Lékpa Gbégbéni praising the quality of debates that allowed for better integration of the realities of farmers, breeders, and fishermen. He situated the law within the vision of the President of the Council, based on the triptych "Rassembler, Transformer, Protéger". However, Gbégbéni noted that the effectiveness of the law would depend on the resources mobilized and concertation between public, private, and associative actors.
The President of the Assembly, Pr Klassou, described the vote as a major step, emphasizing the need to produce more and transform locally to create added value and support industrialization. He called on the government to rapidly adopt implementing texts and involve all actors, assuring that the Assembly would ensure the law produces concrete results. The law still needs to complete its parliamentary process before entering into force.
The adoption of the law was attended by several ministers, including Gilbert Bawara (Relations with Parliament and Institutions), Antoine Lékpa Gbégbéni (Agriculture), and Jean-Marie Koffi Ewonoulé Tessi (Health). The law is expected to have a positive impact on the Togolese agricultural sector, which is a significant contributor to the country's economy.
The implementation of the agricultural orientation law will be closely monitored by the Assembly, which has promised to ensure that the law produces concrete results. The law's success will depend on the effective mobilization of resources and collaboration between all stakeholders. Key points of the law include the modernization of the agricultural sector, improvement of yields, and strengthening of food sovereignty.
Key points
- The Togolese parliament has adopted the agricultural orientation law in its first reading to modernize the sector and boost food sovereignty.
- The law aims to provide a coherent legal framework for the agricultural sector and improve yields.
- The effectiveness of the law will depend on the resources mobilized and concertation between public, private, and associative actors.
