A small village in the Plateau region of Togo has a population of roughly 600 people and its mail economic activity is subsistence agriculture. The farmers depend mainly on crops such as corn, peanuts, beans, and manioc to support their families. Harvested crops must either be consumed or sold, since the village lacks appropriate storage bins and grain conservation methods.
During the off-season, the farmers are forced to buy the grains they harvest from local merchants who have the means to buy, conserve, and re-sell at grossly inflated prices. This imposes a financial burden on the farmers who lose money and gain little to nothing from their farms but must still provide for their families. The women of the village have organized themselves in a cooperative in an effort to obtain technical assistance to address pressing community needs
It has been concluded that the number one priority for the community in terms of establishing a logistical and economic foundation for self sustainability is to have a storage warehouse for their harvested crops and to apply proper grain conservation techniques. The community has vowed to contribute whatever is at their disposal including land acquisition and preparation, sand, gravel, water, manual labor, and transport of materials. Their contribution amounts to 28% of the total budget.
The Volunteer on-site and the village are requesting 8,085 USD to complete this project. This proposed project aims at financial self-sustainability and seeks to improve the lives of over 150 families.
Note: This summary was provided by a Peace Corps Volunteer and the community administering this project.
