In Badzi, Togo, AGUDEGBE Kossi is part of a small-scale revolution that is reshaping farming practices, empowering communities, and improving livelihoods through the combined power of individualised coaching and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).
As the president of the Dzagbagba Cooperative, Kossi has been a cocoa farmer for over 15 years, cultivating four plantations spanning 4 hectares. This year, he is not only setting up a new plantation, but with the support of the Midjo Project he is also embracing innovative agricultural methods that promise higher yields and more sustainable growth.
Building Resilience
Under the guidance of Beyond Beans’ dedicated field officers, Koffi MOTTE and Kloudja EDEM, Kossi has received cocoaching. Cocoaching is our personalised coaching method that tailors advice and suggestions to each farmers’ unique circumstances by analysing their farms, understanding their socio-economic reality and motivation, and with all the information, jointly designing a development plan to improve their farm management practices.
“Cocoaching is a good approach,” says Kossi, “It has helped me to learn a lot and to change my old practices. With the help of the field agent’s advice, I’m applying good farming practices, especially looking after the plantation and pruning at the right time. And I’m putting my energy into making compost to enrich the soil of my plantation.”
After receiving training, Kossi adopted Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), along with 20 agroforestry trees. When planted, these will contribute to soil fertility, climate resilience, and enhanced yields. All of which, will help him to produce a higher-quality cocoa, which will ultimately attract better prices in the market.
Collectively Saving
Kossi is part of a VSLA group composed of five men and five women. Together, they pooled funds totalling over XOF 500,000 by the end of their first cycle. These savings are a lifeline, enabling members to access small, low-interest loans (25 FCFA per 1,000 FCFA).
“The VSLA allows me to save money and meet my individual needs,” says Kossi. Through collective effort, the group decided to recover a neglected plantation from a member who was unable to maintain it due to illness. This plantation is now a community-managed project, offering a new source of income for the group and the cooperative.
In the VSLA, loans are often used to fund income-generating activities or investments in farm improvements, which reinforce the group’s mission to uplift every member.
Building a Better Community
With 16 children in his household, Kossi is committed to securing their education and opportunities. But his vision goes beyond that and encompasses the entire community. He has many plans, including laying a proper road to the village and building a bridge over the stream for better access. He wants to replace bamboo electricity poles with durable hardwood or metal. Sanitation is also key, and he is going to transform the local well into a borehole so the whole village has easy access to safe drinking water and install latrines for the farm and village. He is a busy man, but as Kossi puts it: “The hand that labours is nourished by its work.”
About Midjo
Through the Midjo project, supported by Strauss Group and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), we support cocoa and coffee farmers through activities intended to increase their basic income by diversifying income, increasing production, and reducing child labour.
