Purpose: Due to rapid urbanization, rice consumption in Togo has also rapidly increased. Most consumers prefer imported rice over domestically produced rice due to the higher quality of the imported rice. The purpose of this paper is to show that it is possible to upgrade the quality of Togo’s domestically produced rice by providing technical and management support in the form of contract farming.Design/methodology/approach: Cross-sectional data were collected using a multi-stage sampling technique. An endogenous switching regression model was used for data analysis.Findings: The results show that by participating in contract farming, paddy rice quality was upgraded from Grade IV (poor quality) to Grade I (premium quality). The factors influencing this upgrade in the quality of paddy rice grown through contract farming are: the number of extension visits to the farmer, the mode of threshing used by the farmer, and the agro-ecological zone of the farmer.Research limitations/implications: The data for this study are limited to one country, Togo and this may have implications for generalizing the results for other countries.Originality/value: This study is original research that contributes to an improved understanding of the impacts of contract farming on the quality of agricultural products produced in developing and emerging economies.

Assessments of poverty among agricultural households in Sub-Saharan Africa often rely on either monetary or multidimensional indicators considered separately, overlooking key structural constraints. This study investigates the determinants of both monetary and multidimensional poverty among agricultural households in Togo. Using nationally representative EHCVM 2021/22 data from 2893 households, monetary poverty is measured using the Foster–Greer–Thorbecke Index, while multidimensional poverty is assessed with the Alkire–Foster method. A survey-weighted logit model is employed to identify the drivers associated with each poverty dimension. Results show that multidimensional poverty (59.40%) is more widespread than monetary poverty (51.50%). Education substantially reduces poverty risk, whereas larger household size, limited market access, and residence in the Savannah region increase it. Economic and natural shocks are negatively associated with monetary and absolute poverty, while cooperative membership raises the likelihood of being poor. Investment in livestock (TLU) reduces monetary poverty but increases multidimensional deprivation. These findings highlight that poverty among agricultural households in Togo is shaped by interconnected socioeconomic and institutional constraints rather than income deprivation alone. Therefore, integrated strategies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those promoting education, rural credit access, market integration, and resilience-building, are essential for achieving effective and context-specific poverty reduction.

This study explores the determinants of consumer purchasing behaviour for locally processed cocoa-based products in Lomé, Togo. A stratified random sample of 250 consumers was surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis combined descriptive statistics with principal component factor analysis (Varimax rotation), followed by hierarchical clustering (K-means, k = 3). The results show that the most frequently consumed cocoa derivatives are chocolate (90.8%), cocoa powder (58.8%), cocoa butter (40%), cocoa paste (23.2%), and cocoa juice (18.4%). These products are primarily consumed at breakfast (93.6%), as snacks, or for cosmetic purposes. Factor and Cluster analysis further highlighted heterogeneity in consumer profiles, identifying three groups: “Altruists” (38%), who emphasise sharing and conviviality; “Status-oriented consumers” (50%), who associate cocoa products with prestige; and “Individualists” (12%), who prioritise personal satisfaction. Two sets of drivers emerged: (i) product attributes such as quality, taste, packaging, advertising, availability, and accessibility, grouped as satisfaction factors; and (ii) price, perceived as affordable and decisive. These findings suggest that strengthening communication, enhancing packaging, and expanding product availability could stimulate demand and contribute to the sustainable development of the Togolese cocoa sector.