{
  "id": 13936947,
  "title": "Togo: Togo's Cotton Farmers Rebuild Soils And Cut Pest Treatments",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/togo-togos-cotton-farmers-rebuild-soils-and-cut-pest-treatments",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-12T10:56:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "AllAfrica",
    "slug": "allafrica",
    "url": "https://allafrica.com/stories/202610120356.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cotton farmers in Togo are adopting regenerative practices to restore soils, boost yields and cut pesticide use. Farmer field schools are teaching them techniques such as zero tillage, crop rotation, intercropping and using biochar and bokashi as soil amendments. This shift is helping farmers strengthen cotton production and support food crops their households depend on. In Bagbé, Togo, Badakizi Yawa is using pheromone and sticky traps to monitor cotton pests, reducing the number of crop protection treatments needed. The Nouvelle Société Cotonnière du Togo (NSCT) introduced regenerative practices in 2023 to address soil degradation, irregular rainfall and rising production costs. Over 79,000 cotton growers, yielding nearly US$50.2 million in exports in 2024, are participating in the program. Regenerative techniques have increased average cotton yields from 570 kilograms per hectare to over one tonne. While results vary, some producers report yields of 1.4 to 2 tonnes per hectare. These gains are attributed to regenerative practices, though it's unclear how much comes from them alone. Farmers learn to produce soil amendments and use pest traps to guide treatment decisions. The program, supported by Olam Agri, has trained over 37,000 farmers in zero tillage, with 97% adopting it. Nearly 37,000 have been trained in crop rotation, and 714 in biochar and bokashi production. Adoption of these practices varies, but many cotton-growing households also grow food crops, so improved soil fertility could benefit both farm income and household food security.",
  "summary": "[Bird Story Agency] Cotton farmers in Togo are rebuilding their soils, reporting higher yields and reducing pesticide applications as regenerative practices take root. Farmer field schools are spreading the skills, helping growers strengthen cotton production and support the food crops their households depend on.",
  "key_points": [
    "Togo cotton farmers adopt regenerative practices to restore soils and cut pesticide use.",
    "Farmer field schools teach zero tillage, crop rotation, intercropping, biochar, and bokashi use.",
    "Regenerative techniques increased average cotton yields from 570 kg/ha to over 1 tonne."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}