Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science (GARJAS) ISSN: 2315-5094
July 2015 Vol. 4(7): pp. 333-341
Copyright © 2015 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Identifying Opportunities in Togo’s Agriculture: Case of the Savannah Region

Tchalim Tom-Irazou

Email:mathieutom@yahoo.fr  

Accepted 15 July 2015

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to identify opportunities to enhance agriculture’s contribution to economic growth in Togo. To achieve this objective the study combines Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) techniques to identify the profit maximizing maize, rice and soybean farmers in the Savannah region of Togo and then computed alternative PAMs based on average observed and profit-efficient farming conditions. The results reveals that maize, rice and soybean farmers are not viable in the long run because they are making losses at social prices. However, efficient farmers make substantial positive profits and the society also makes welfare gains from resources allocated to maize and soybean production. Consequently, policies based on dissemination of best agricultural practices could improve overall efficiency of these cropping systems. Rice production does not seem profitable in social prices even for efficient farmers. Future research could therefore focus on the main differences in farming technology and practices between profit-efficient farmers and other farmers.

Keywords: Data Envelopment Analysis, Policy Analysis Matrix, Savannah region of Togo.