Au Togo, la culture de la tomate est l’une des cultures prioritaires du Programme national d’investissement agricole, de sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle (PNIASAN, 2017–2026). Avec une croissance annuelle moyenne de 15 %, cette production repose sur des milliers de ménages ruraux. 80 % de la tomate produite dans la Région des Savanes est exportée vers le Grand Lomé. Le confinement de cette région du fait de la COVID-19 a coïncidé avec la période de récolte massive de la tomate. Cette recherche vise à déterminer les effets des mesures de confinement sur cette filière. Des enquêtes ont été menées auprès de 152 acteurs choisis de façon volontaire dans la Région des Savanes et dans le Grand Lomé. L’article montre d’une part, que la COVID-19, par le biais de la limitation des déplacements, a sédentarisé une main-d’œuvre supplémentaire au profit de la production maraîchère, ce qui a entraîné une augmentation des surfaces en tomate et donc de la production. D’autre part, les difficultés des producteurs dues à la mévente de leur production de tomate et au pourrissement d’une partie de la récolte, ont entraîné une baisse notable du chiffre d’affaire des maraîchers. Mais ces difficultés, observées durant la crise sanitaire, ont des causes qui existaient antérieurement comme la faiblesse de l’organisation des producteurs et des maillons aval de la filière ainsi que la faible confiance entre ces différents acteurs. La pénurie de ce légume qui s’est installée dans le Grand Lomé a ainsi révélé l’existence des contraintes structurelles exacerbées par la crise de la COVID-19, mais qui lui préexistaient. L’émergence de nouvelles politiques publiques, plus inclusives et touchant tous les acteurs des filières, apparaît donc indispensable au bon fonctionnement des systèmes alimentaires au Togo.

Over the past ten years, African cities have been trying to move towards sustainable food supply by setting up short food distribution circuits (CCs). This article analyzes household behavior towards CCs in Grand Lomé, Togo, using a survey of 963 randomly sampled households, 13 focus groups, 6 individual interviews, as well as observation. Excel spreadsheets and R-Studio software were used to process and analyze quantitative data, while content analysis was applied to the verbal statements collected. At the end of the surveys, multiple-choice questions enabled us to detect, firstly, a low level of use of CCs, with 8.79%, 7.73% and 4.66% of respondents respectively resorting to "online purchasing", "self-production of food" and "the farmer's home". On the other hand, 92.37% of households go to public markets and 81.99% use informal food shops. Next, a correlation was observed between the "type of shop" frequented and "profession" : salaried workers, shopkeepers and students go to quality shops, while artisans make do with lower-quality shops. Finally, the main reasons for visiting markets are "affordability" and "physical proximity", while "quality" and the "local character of the food" are less important. Actions are proposed to increase the role of CCs in this city.

Introduction: Food well-being of the population is one of the priorities of the Togolese government, which relies on the agricultural investment and food security Programme to increase national food production. In addition, the country relies on food imports to make up the shortfall. At the same time undernourishment and malnutrition remain high among the country’s population. This research analyzes food supply and its implications for household consumption in Grand Lomé, Togo. [Methods] The methodology used documents, a survey of 963 heads of household randomly sampled households and semi-structured interviews with 10 households and with Togolese food safety agency (ANSAT). Quantitative data were processed and analyzed using Excel spreadsheets R and R-Studio, while content analysis was applied to the verbal applied to the verbal statements collected. Results: Firstly, the results show that domestic agricultural production contributed an average of 91% of food supply between 2014–2017. The deficit is made up by food imports, which rose from 13.5% in 2014 to 15.4% in 2017. This translated into an acceptable food energy consumption of 2337 Kcal/head/day in 2017. Secondly, 81% of respondents recognize a strong food presence at consumer markets, except that the chi-square test applied to the data at the 5% threshold shows (p-value < 2.2 × 10−16), indicates that this satisfaction is a function of place of residence. Despite this, persistent shortages affect more staple crops, livestock and dairy products, leading households to deprive themselves and buy food at affordable prices. Finally, we observe non-diversified diets marked by regular consumption of “cereals/legumes”, vegetables and beverages to the detriment of “tubers/roots”, “meat/fish”, “fruit” and “dairy products”. Conclusion: This research shows that food supply, although adequate, is not sufficient to ensure balanced, nutritious and culturally appropriate food consumption by urban households. Recommendations: To meet these challenges, the central government, in collaboration with urban communes and consumer advocates, must mobilize resources to create urban agricultural farms, strengthen food protection systems, distribute staple products directly to households and limit the importation of food that is hazardous to health.

In West Africa, 110 million urban dwellers do not have access to sustainable food. 22 million are underweight and the majority are overweight. The aim of this study is to identify the obstacles to food accessibility in Grand Lomé, Togo. A questionnaire was administered to 963 randomly sampled heads of households. Qualitative data were collected through group and individual interviews, as well as field observation. Excel spreadsheet and R-Studio software were used to process and analyze quantitative data, while verbal statements collected via interviews were subjected to content analysis. The results reveal, firstly, inequalities in physical access to food: the Fisher test applied to the data at the 5% threshold (p-value < 1.509e-07), indicates that perception of distance from food markets is strongly linked to place of residence. Secondly, low purchasing power and high food prices mentioned respectively by 88.34% and 72.25% of respondents, are the primary causes of food insecurity. In fact, economic poverty particularly affects large families and those whose heads of household work in the craft and trade sectors. More than half of all respondents cite the high cost of animal products, tubers/roots and fruit, while the reasons for this vary according to the respondent's level of education. The acquisition of “tubers/roots”, “livestock products” and “dairy products” is more conditioned by the proximity of food shops, while that of “cereals/legumes”, “vegetables” and “beverages” depends on the price and purchasing power of the household. This information is crucial for planning actions to combat food inequalities in this urban area.