Project to Support the Improvement of the Competitiveness of the Pineapple Sector in Togo (PROCAT)

Togo's agricultural sector is poorly developed. The agricultural productivity of the country is low, market access inadequate and the rural population persists in traditional behaviour patterns. In addition to primary producers, there are only a few smaller artisanal agricultural processing enterprises in rural areas. In the primary production, there are small enterprises and production groups. Women are particularly disadvantaged in their productive role. This situation is aggravated by the rural exodus, especially the male youth.  The project aims at sustainable agricultural growth focused on poverty reduction and the development of economic structures within the framework of sustainable economic promotion as well as a better orientation of production and market-oriented processing.

Objectives

The objective of the project is to improve the competitiveness of pineapple processing companies in Togo, through:

  • Support and improve the capacities of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in producing, processing and marketing of pineapples on local, regional and international markets;
  • Strengthen the intermediary organisations in the Pineapple-WSK to improve and expand the services for MSME;
  • Systematically implement measures to promote international competitiveness and to improve a business-friendly environment.

 

Services provided include, but are not limited to:

  • Support for medium-sized processing companies in setting up their own small producer advisory service;
  • Organisational and technical support for small producers in the development of contract farming;
  • Establishment of input funds located at companies to support small producers with inputs and machine services;
  • Technical support: process optimization, hygiene principles, new recipes, innovative plants, increased use of renewable energy sources, etc.;
  • Visits to international trade fairs for processing plants (sub-region, South Africa);
  • Realization of feasibility studies and business plans for investment projects Development of QMS with medium-sized companies according to HACCP principles, taking traceability into account (certification only for market requirements);
  • Support of selected companies for certification according to private standards of European organic associations (e.g. Demeter, Naturland);
  • Development of a training manual for the establishment and good management of processing plants.