Total Factor Productivity and Sources of Long Term Growth in Togolese Agriculture

The paper attempts to measure the total factor productivity (TFP) in order to provide better empirical evidence on its contribution to Togolese agriculture growth. It applies the conventional growth accounting framework to the time series data at an aggregate level over the period 1970-2014. The determinants of TFP growth are then identified using the error correction modelling technique. The results confirm the general expectation from previous studies that TFP makes an important contribution to agricultural output growth even though it displays two main episodes, a deceleration during the state intervention period and an acceleration episode during the liberalization period. The paper highlights the fact that the agricultural research and extension policies play an important role in determining the TFP long term growth

Impact of Fertilizer Price Subsidy on Agricultural Growth in Togo

Fertilizer subsidy policy remains a major plank of inputs policies in Africa. Its objective is to improve agricultural productivity and reduce poverty among farmers. This article examines the impact of fertilizer prices subsidy on agricultural growth in Togo. The Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) modelling approach is used to analyse both short and long run impacts of fertilizer subsidy on agricultural growth. Using data from national and international sources over the period 1985 to 2016, the results show that, the impact of fertilizer price subsidy on agricultural growth is limited. The price subsidy did not significantly enhance agricultural growth neither in the short nor in the long run. Moreover, the results highlight the fact that factors, which play a major role in agricultural growth are expenditure, arable land and labour force. To improve the efficiency of fertilizer subsidy, the government should drop price subsidy policy at global level and experience alternative options, which would facilitate fertilizer access to poorer and more marginal farmers

Structure, Coûts Des Transactions Et Integration Spatiale Des Marches Des Produits Alimentaires Au Togo

Le présent travail évalue d'une part la structure des coûts de transaction des principaux produits commercialisés au Togo (maïs, sorgho, oignon, gari, tomate, poisson, volaille et gros bétail), et d'autre part le niveau de l'intégration du marché de maïs qui est devenu le produit dominant dans le système de production, de consommation et de commercialisation au Togo. L'analyse des coûts de transaction réalisée à partir des données primaires a débouché sur le constat global que les coûts de transport représentent le facteur le plus déterminant dans les coûts de transaction. L'analyse de l'intégration du marché de maïs réalisée au moyen de la technique de co-intégration et du modèle de Ravallion appliqués sur des séries de prix a permis de dresser trois constats: 1) il existe un équilibre de long terme stable entre les marchés de Lomé et les autres marchés; 2)Lomé joue le rôle de marché de référence dans le réseau; 3)un retard dans la transmission des changements des prix. Il importe, pour garantir la sécurité alimentaire au Togo d'entreprendre les actions visant:1)à réduire le coût du service transport des produits alimentaires en milieu rural; 2)à améliorer la disponibilité et l'accessibilité de l'information pour l'ensemble des acteurs du marché céréalier (producteurs, consommateurs et commerçants). La mise en œuvre de ces politiques permettra alors d'améliorer la sécurité alimentaire à travers une meilleure disponibilité et accessibilité des produits alimentaires aux consommateurs.marche, couts transaction, integration, co-integration, securite alimentaire, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Industrial Organization, International Relations/Trade, Labor and Human Capital, Land Economics/Use, Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Evaluating the impact of screening plus eave tubes on malaria transmission compared to current best practice in central Côte d'Ivoire : A two armed cluster randomized controlled trial

Background: Access to long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) has increased and malaria has decreased globally, but malaria transmission remains high in parts of sub-Saharan Africa and insecticide resistance threatens current progress. Eave tubes are a new tool for the targeted delivery of insecticides against mosquitoes attempting to enter houses. The primary objective of this trial is to test whether screening plus eave tubes (SET) provides protection against malaria, on top of universal coverage with LLINs in an area of intense pyrethroid resistance. The trial will also assess acceptability and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Methods/design: A two-armed, cluster randomized controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the effect of SET on clinical malaria incidence in children living in central Côte d'Ivoire. Forty villages will be selected based on population size and the proportion of houses suitable for modification with SET. Using restricted randomization, half the villages will be assigned to the treatment arm (SET + LLINs) and the remainder will be assigned to the control arm (LLINs only). In both arms, LLINs will be distributed and in the treatment arm, householders will be offered SET. Fifty children aged six months to eight years old will be enrolled from randomly selected households in each of the 40 villages. Cohorts will be cleared of malaria parasites at the start of the study and one year after recruitment, and will be monitored for clinical malaria case incidence by active case detection over two years. Mosquito densities will be assessed using CDC light traps and human landing catches and a subset of Anopheles mosquitoes will be examined for parity status and tested for sporozoite infection. Acceptability of SET will be monitored using surveys and focus groups. Cost-effectiveness analysis will measure the incremental cost per case averted and per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted of adding SET to LLINs. Economic and financial costs will be estimated from societal and provider perspective using standard economic evaluation methods. Discussion: This study will be the first evaluation of the epidemiological impact of SET. Trial findings will show whether SET is a viable, cost-effective technology for malaria control in Côte d'Ivoire and possibly elsewhere. Trial registration: ISRCTN18145556, registered on 01 February 2017 - retrospectively registered

Governance and psychological contract in clanic context : the case of SBEE and CNCB, two public companies

La présente thèse est un essai de compréhension de la transgression récurrente du cadre de « bonne gouvernance », imposé par la Banque Mondiale, face au constat des mauvais résultats des entreprises publiques béninoises (ancien Dahomey). Elle tente donc de répondre à une question : pourquoi les mécanismes, procédures et règles établis sont-ils en permanence transgressés dans le secteur public ? Répondre à cette question permet de saisir les causes de l’éloignement des entreprises de la performance mobilisée, dans ce contexte, sous le prisme de l’efficacité socio-économique, de la satisfaction des clients-usagers et de la rationalisation des ressources. Cette recherche se fonde sur l’idée que les méthodes de gestion doivent s’inscrire dans le cadre socioculturel et mobilise la notion de clan comme servant de base à la formation du contrat psychologique des fournisseurs et des employés des entreprises publiques dans les commandes publiques d’une part et les relations d’emploi d’autre part. Ce contrat psychologique favorise les transgressions du cadre de « bonne gouvernance ». Il a été question d’explorer, à la SBEE et au CNCB, si les logiques claniques fondent ou non les contrats psychologiques, propices aux transgressions, ce qui éloigne ces entreprises de la performance. Des interviews conduites auprès des parties prenantes des achats publics (fournisseurs, organes de passation internes à l’entreprise) et de l’emploi (personnels, dirigeants), de l’exploitation des documents collectés et de la narration des faits observés, il ressort que l’entreprise publique est perçue comme un clan. Aussi, cohabitent les clans politique, ethnique et familial de même que le « paternalisme adoptif » dont les logiques d’action comportent les transgressions entraînant la mauvaise utilisation des ressources publiques et l’insatisfaction des clients-usagers. Toutefois, le phénomène du clan n’est pas exclusif. La perception des entreprises publiques par les différents acteurs de même que la bonne foi de gens, désireux d’apporter leur expertise en vue de sortir du chômage, sont aussi parfois la base des contrats psychologiques. Il arrive, en général, que le contrat psychologique fasse l’objet de rupture, ce qui est à l’origine de grandes déceptions. Cette situation peut ne pas être définitive. A force de lutte, d’espoir ou à l’avènement d’un nouveau directeur, leurs anciennes attentes/promesses peuvent être restaurées, ce qui correspond à une reprise du contrat psychologique. La performance des entreprises publiques est, en premier lieu, clanique en sus de la recherche de la satisfaction de besoins physiologiques par du travail honnête, ce que l’environnement peut corrompre. L’éloignement des entreprises publiques de la performance est donc favorisé par un ensemble de facteurs convergents dont le clan, la représentation de l’entreprise comme « une manne à se distribuer » puis la recherche de la sécurité d’emploi dans un contexte marqué par le chômage. Quelles sont les solutions aux transgressions ? - En premier lieu, le recul effectif du pouvoir politique des entreprises publiques par l’intégration des administrateurs extérieurs, bien que ne participant pas au capital est une solution. - Permettre au conseil d’administration de jouer son plein rôle. - Il est impossible d’exclure les clans et leurs logiques. Toutefois, ils ne devraient pas exister au détriment des intérêts de la collectivité nationale. Ainsi, est-il utile de remettre le travail, l’équité la contribution individuelle et collective au cœur de l’éducation nationale. - Les règles d’organisation existantes pourraient être évaluées, de nouvelles règles élaborées suivant le principe de l’« inclusiveness » puis mises en œuvre. - Assurer leur bonne diffusion/internalisation et la surveillance collective de leur mise en œuvre. - Les objectifs communs de performance devront être définis et atteints ensembles.This thesis is an understanding of the recurring transgression of testing the framework of "good governance" imposed by the World Bank, opposite the finding of bad results Beninese public enterprises (former Dahomey). So it tries to answer a question: why are the mechanisms established, procedures and rules constantly violated in the public sector? Answering this question captures the causes of the remoteness of used performance businesses, in this context, from the perspective of socio-economic efficiency, user-customers satisfaction and good use of resources. This research is based on the idea that management practices must be part of the socio-cultural context and mobilizes the notion of clan as providing the basis for the formation of the suppliers and employees psychological contract of public companies in public procurement on the one hand, and employment relationships on the other. This promotes the context of transgressions of "good governance". There has been talk of exploring, SBEE and CNCB, if the clan logic based or not psychological contracts, prone transgressions, what separates these companies from performance.From Interviews conducted with stakeholders in public procurement (suppliers, internal organs award to the company) and employment relations (personal, leaders), operation of the documents collected within companies and narration of observed facts, it appears that the public company is represented as a clan. Also coexist political, ethnic and family clans as the "adoptive paternalism" whose action logics include transgressions involving the misuse of public resources and the dissatisfaction of the users-customers. However, the clan is not exclusive. The perception of public enterprises by the various stakeholders as well as the good faith of people, eager to bring their expertise to get out of unemployment, determine the psychological contracts. It happens, in general, that the psychological contract is subject to rupture, which is the source of great disappointment. This may not be definitive. With a fight of strength, hope or the advent of a new director, their former expectations / promises can be restored, corresponding to a recovery of the psychological contract. The performance of public enterprises is first of all, clanic. But, looking for the satisfaction of physiological needs by honest work is poorly exploited. The remoteness of public enterprises performance is enhanced by a set of converging factors including the clan, company representation as "a godsend to distribute" then search for job security in an unemployment context and particularly the fear of unemployment. On the factors listed above, what are the solutions to the transgressions? - First, the decline of the state of governance of public enterprises through the integration of outside directors, although not participating in their capital. - It is impossible to exclude the clan logic. However, the organizational rules must be implemented and the common goals of performance must be set and achieved together. - Develop the new rules on the principle of inclusiveness, ensure their proper dissemination / internalization and collective monitoring of their implementation. - Focus on work values and contribution to the nation. As perspective, research on the performance of public enterprises is based on the reality of the clan and representations help to better define the objectives to make them feasible

Gouvernance et contrat psychologique en contexte clanique : cas de la Société Béninoise d'Energie Electrique (SBEE) et du Conseil National des Chargeurs du Bénin (CNCB), deux entreprises publiques

This thesis is an understanding of the recurring transgression of testing the framework of "good governance" imposed by the World Bank, opposite the finding of bad results Beninese public enterprises (former Dahomey). So it tries to answer a question: why are the mechanisms established, procedures and rules constantly violated in the public sector? Answering this question captures the causes of the remoteness of used performance businesses, in this context, from the perspective of socio-economic efficiency, user-customers satisfaction and good use of resources. This research is based on the idea that management practices must be part of the socio-cultural context and mobilizes the notion of clan as providing the basis for the formation of the suppliers and employees psychological contract of public companies in public procurement on the one hand, and employment relationships on the other. This promotes the context of transgressions of "good governance". There has been talk of exploring, SBEE and CNCB, if the clan logic based or not psychological contracts, prone transgressions, what separates these companies from performance.From Interviews conducted with stakeholders in public procurement (suppliers, internal organs award to the company) and employment relations (personal, leaders), operation of the documents collected within companies and narration of observed facts, it appears that the public company is represented as a clan. Also coexist political, ethnic and family clans as the "adoptive paternalism" whose action logics include transgressions involving the misuse of public resources and the dissatisfaction of the users-customers. However, the clan is not exclusive. The perception of public enterprises by the various stakeholders as well as the good faith of people, eager to bring their expertise to get out of unemployment, determine the psychological contracts. It happens, in general, that the psychological contract is subject to rupture, which is the source of great disappointment. This may not be definitive. With a fight of strength, hope or the advent of a new director, their former expectations / promises can be restored, corresponding to a recovery of the psychological contract. The performance of public enterprises is first of all, clanic. But, looking for the satisfaction of physiological needs by honest work is poorly exploited. The remoteness of public enterprises performance is enhanced by a set of converging factors including the clan, company representation as "a godsend to distribute" then search for job security in an unemployment context and particularly the fear of unemployment. On the factors listed above, what are the solutions to the transgressions? - First, the decline of the state of governance of public enterprises through the integration of outside directors, although not participating in their capital. - It is impossible to exclude the clan logic. However, the organizational rules must be implemented and the common goals of performance must be set and achieved together. - Develop the new rules on the principle of inclusiveness, ensure their proper dissemination / internalization and collective monitoring of their implementation. - Focus on work values and contribution to the nation. As perspective, research on the performance of public enterprises is based on the reality of the clan and representations help to better define the objectives to make them feasible.La présente thèse est un essai de compréhension de la transgression récurrente du cadre de « bonne gouvernance », imposé par la Banque Mondiale, face au constat des mauvais résultats des entreprises publiques béninoises (ancien Dahomey). Elle tente donc de répondre à une question : pourquoi les mécanismes, procédures et règles établis sont-ils en permanence transgressés dans le secteur public ? Répondre à cette question permet de saisir les causes de l’éloignement des entreprises de la performance mobilisée, dans ce contexte, sous le prisme de l’efficacité socio-économique, de la satisfaction des clients-usagers et de la rationalisation des ressources. Cette recherche se fonde sur l’idée que les méthodes de gestion doivent s’inscrire dans le cadre socioculturel et mobilise la notion de clan comme servant de base à la formation du contrat psychologique des fournisseurs et des employés des entreprises publiques dans les commandes publiques d’une part et les relations d’emploi d’autre part. Ce contrat psychologique favorise les transgressions du cadre de « bonne gouvernance ». Il a été question d’explorer, à la SBEE et au CNCB, si les logiques claniques fondent ou non les contrats psychologiques, propices aux transgressions, ce qui éloigne ces entreprises de la performance. Des interviews conduites auprès des parties prenantes des achats publics (fournisseurs, organes de passation internes à l’entreprise) et de l’emploi (personnels, dirigeants), de l’exploitation des documents collectés et de la narration des faits observés, il ressort que l’entreprise publique est perçue comme un clan. Aussi, cohabitent les clans politique, ethnique et familial de même que le « paternalisme adoptif » dont les logiques d’action comportent les transgressions entraînant la mauvaise utilisation des ressources publiques et l’insatisfaction des clients-usagers. Toutefois, le phénomène du clan n’est pas exclusif. La perception des entreprises publiques par les différents acteurs de même que la bonne foi de gens, désireux d’apporter leur expertise en vue de sortir du chômage, sont aussi parfois la base des contrats psychologiques. Il arrive, en général, que le contrat psychologique fasse l’objet de rupture, ce qui est à l’origine de grandes déceptions. Cette situation peut ne pas être définitive. A force de lutte, d’espoir ou à l’avènement d’un nouveau directeur, leurs anciennes attentes/promesses peuvent être restaurées, ce qui correspond à une reprise du contrat psychologique. La performance des entreprises publiques est, en premier lieu, clanique en sus de la recherche de la satisfaction de besoins physiologiques par du travail honnête, ce que l’environnement peut corrompre. L’éloignement des entreprises publiques de la performance est donc favorisé par un ensemble de facteurs convergents dont le clan, la représentation de l’entreprise comme « une manne à se distribuer » puis la recherche de la sécurité d’emploi dans un contexte marqué par le chômage. Quelles sont les solutions aux transgressions ? - En premier lieu, le recul effectif du pouvoir politique des entreprises publiques par l’intégration des administrateurs extérieurs, bien que ne participant pas au capital est une solution. - Permettre au conseil d’administration de jouer son plein rôle. - Il est impossible d’exclure les clans et leurs logiques. Toutefois, ils ne devraient pas exister au détriment des intérêts de la collectivité nationale. Ainsi, est-il utile de remettre le travail, l’équité la contribution individuelle et collective au cœur de l’éducation nationale. -Les règles d’organisation existantes pourraient être évaluées, de nouvelles règles élaborées suivant le principe de l’« inclusiveness » puis mises en œuvre. - Assurer leur bonne diffusion/internalisation et la surveillance collective de leur mise en œuvre. - Les objectifs communs de performance devront être définis et atteints ensembles

Improved Seeds Adoption Among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Togo: The Case of NERICA in the Savannah Region

The low adoption of new technologies, particularly improved seeds, remains a critical issue hampering the development of agriculture in many developing countries. The objective of this research is to identify the determinants of (i) the farmer’s knowledge,( ii) the adoption decision and (iii) the adoption intensity of NERICA rice varieties in the Togolese Savannah region. Probit and Tobit models were used to analyse data collected from 150 rice growers randomly selected. The results of the estimations showed that the knowledge, the adoption decision and the adoption intensity of NERICA are determined by socio-economic and institutional factors. The common factors affecting the knowledge, the adoption decision and the adoption intensity are credit access, extension service and gender. However, the adoption intensity is specifically affected by the rice income, the land ownership and the membership to a farmer’s base organization. These findings suggest the necessity to improve the agricultural credit access, the extension services access and to take gender into account in policies making in order to give men and women the same chances of access to innovations

Effect of targeted fertiliser subsidy on poverty reduction in Togo

The reintroduction of innovative forms of input subsidies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) following the food crisis of 2008 raises concerns about their effectiveness in the fight against poverty. In this context, this paper examines the effect of the targeted fertiliser subsidy implemented in Togo from 2017 to 2019. For this purpose, the propensity score matching and instrumental variables regression approaches were used to control for potential selection and endogeneity bias. Nationwide cross-sectional survey data covering 2 319 smallholder farmers in Togo suggests that participation in the targeted fertiliser subsidy programme significantly improved beneficiaries’ poverty status through increased income, leading to a decline in poverty incidence, gap and severity. However, the magnitude of the effect is very small compared to that in some other West African countries. Therefore, to enhance the effect of targeted subsidy policy on income and poverty status, there is a need to improve the rate and composition of the subsidy

Asymmetry and transmission of international price shocks of cocoa and coffee in Togo

This study assesses the mechanism of the transmission of international price shocks to producer prices of coffee and cocoa in Togo. A threshold autoregressive (TAR) model was estimated using monthly series of international and producer prices of coffee and cocoa in Togo from 1994 to 2018. The results show that there is asymmetric transmission of international price shocks to producer prices. Domestic prices respond less quickly to international price increase than decreases. The asymmetric price transmission is similar in term of the speed of adjustment for the two commodities. In order to deal with this phenomenon, further investigations need to be done to detect the reasons for the asymmetry in price transmission between domestic and international coffee and cocoa markets

Assess the level and the determinants of household food security in Togo: The food expenditures approach

This paper assesses the level and the determinants of household food security in Togo using Unified Questionnaire on Basic Indicators of Well-Being. Data were analyzed using the Forster-Greer-Thorbecke estimation method and logistic regression. Results show that the incidence of food insecurity in Togo is 59%. This incidence is 67% in rural areas against 53% in urban areas. Being literate, household size, access to health services, proximity to the market and food price shock are the determinants of household food security status in Togo. Therefore, to effectively address the food security problem in Togo, food pricing and decent employment creation policies should be considered to improve household income. Family planning policies are also important to promote. All these policies must take into account the most vulnerable and marginalized groups such as the poor, rural residents and women