VSF-Switzerland to strengthen food security and the animal value chain

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Extract from the article: The Network of International Non-Governmental Organisations in Togo (RONGITO) created in January 2018, is a group of international NGOs based in Togo wants to further strengthen its visibility and its interventions in Togo. To this end, RONGITO organ

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The Network of International Non-Governmental Organisations in Togo (RONGITO) created in January 2018, is a group of international NGOs based in Togo wants to further strengthen its visibility and its interventions in Togo. To this end, RONGITO organised an open day on Thursday 28 September 2023 in Lomé, on the theme: « A network, a synergy of actions for sustainable and inclusive development". The event was opened by Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah-Dogbé.  During these open days, the NGO Vétérinaires Sans Frontières-Suisses (VSF-Suisse), one of the members of the network, identified itself through its work in the development of income-generating activities, natural resource management, environmental protection, livestock breeding and animal health.

Through these open days, RONGITO wants to showcase its activities, projects, members, prospects, challenges and action plan. It is also an opportunity to exchange views with all development stakeholders on a number of themes, with a view to stimulating reflection that will contribute further to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Togo. 

 

VSF-Suisse in the spotlight at the JPO

VSF-Suisse supports the Togolese government and contributes to the achievement of the MDGs through its actions in the fields of livestock farming, beekeeping in particular, and healthy food.

Honey, a development sector

The NGO Vétérinaires Sans Frontières-Suisse has chosen instead to highlight its actions to promote beekeeping. For 20 years now, the Togolese beekeeping sector has had one of its best allies.

Since 2002, VSF-Suisse has made animal health its main focus.Among its many actions in the field, one in particular stands out: protecting the environment by keeping bees in hives.  Despite the many challenges, VSF-Suisse's efforts to promote animal health in Togo have had a positive impact on the well-being and resilience of vulnerable populations. The project entitled « Honey from healthy bees and shea butter from small-scale producers for remunerative markets and for better governance of the Goubi community forest » (MiKaGo) is one of the projects leading to positive and sustainable changes.

According to Dr Géraud Hellow, Country Director of VSF-Switzerland and Secretary General of RONGITO, the aim of the project is to increase the knowledge of local honey producers about the hives they should use to produce good honey and the materials they need to collect quality shea butter. The project has also helped them to find markets with aggregators to sell their products and earn a good income.  « Beekeeping is one of the best ways of preserving the forest. By focusing on this sector, we are realising that the better beekeeping is promoted, the better our forests are protected.We've noticed that the central region has enormous potential for beekeeping production. Our intervention on the ground is to help these populations to give up hunting honey, which destroys the forest.Instead, they now know that they need to use beehives to get more out of their trade », emphasises Dr Hellow.

Healthy food

VSF-Suisse is committed to healthy eating. Its aim is to encourage people to take better control of their meat consumption.This initiative is part of the « Food security based on meat from social entrepreneurship (SALVES) » project, which has been running since January 2022 to improve people's control over the meat of small ruminants. According to Dr Géraud Hellow, « to improve the quality of meat, especially that from small ruminants, a number of actions need to be taken.We recommend that the authorities step up the construction of modern slaughterhouses that take into account slaughter and inspection techniques and the health of all those working in the sector.Capacity-building for veterinary officers and those who handle meat from slaughter to consumption, as well as consumer awareness-raising, must continue ».

Ensuring hygiene in street food restaurants

Lack of hygiene can be observed at all levels of the preparation and sale of street food.Those involved in this sector have limited knowledge of good hygiene practices.This exposes consumers to the risk of food-borne diseases. As the hygiene and sanitation services lack the resources to fulfil their mandate of monitoring and educating all street food operators, these risks are becoming increasingly significant.In order to alleviate these worrying situations, VSF-Suisse is working with its partners to improve the hygiene practices of street food workers in the prefectures of Golfe and Agoè.  To this end, a series of training sessions focusing on good hygiene practices are being organised for food handlers.  The aim is to help improve the consumption of healthy meat in Lomé. At the end of these training sessions, checks and monitoring are carried out at the sales outlets run by these operators. At the end of the process, those who apply good hygiene practices receive authentic certification.

Abla Aziadjo, a mother of 3 and restaurant owner in Lomé, describes the changes that have taken place in her restaurant as a result of the training: « This training has had a significant impact on the way I prepare and sell food. I've improved hand washing in my restaurant, and the cleanliness of kitchen utensils and sponges.The technicians visit us frequently to check that the concepts we've learned are being respected.What amazed me was that I obtained a certificate of good hygiene practice.Now my restaurant is clean and customers are satisfied with my services », she revealed.

Improving the animal value chain

VSF Switzerland is bringing all its experience to bear in the dairy sector, with the aim of strengthening and involving women in the value creation process. The main objective is to boost the income of pastoralist households by empowering women and increasing the consumption of dairy products such as wagashi.In addition, VSF-Suisse and its partners in Togo are supporting cooperatives of small-scale livestock farmers in the fight against animal diseases.

William O.