HollandDoor in partnership with Globally Cool, has completed the Export Market Study for Togo, commissioned by Lutheran World Relief (LWR) as part of the USDA-funded PROFIT (Promotion des Filières Horticoles au Togo) programme. The study delivers a clear message: exporting is possible, but the pathway differs by product.
For processed cassava products, opportunities are immediate. Products such as gari, attiéké and cassava flour already reach diaspora markets in the United States. The main barriers are not product quality, but practical aspects such as labelling, packaging, hygiene documentation and supply consistency – all of which are within reach for local actors.
For fresh chili peppers and okra, the potential is more gradual. While demand is strong, especially in Europe, market access is constrained by requirements such as maximum residue level (MRL) compliance, traceability and the near absence of cold-chain and post-harvest systems. Overcoming these challenges will require step-by-step upgrades across the value chain.
As a market systems development programme, PROFIT aims to facilitate these changes through the system rather than via direct substitution. The study highlights practical entry points:
- introducing simple compliance tools;
- piloting export-ready cases with committed micro, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs);
- strengthening producer-exporter links;
- making buyer requirements more visible so that actors can respond to genuine market incentives.
The conclusion is encouraging: Togo’s cassava, chili and okra sectors are already connected to markets. With targeted, system-wide improvements, they can move from informal trade to structured, profitable exports.
For more information, please contact Cedric van Oene
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