In Togo, cashew nuts have become one of the most dynamic cash crops, driven by increased planted areas and growing investor interest in processing. In response to this growth, the government has decided to tighten and clarify the rules governing purchase, processing, and export in order to better organize the sector, secure producers’ incomes, and boost local value creation.

A Tighter Regulatory Framework for the Cashew Sector

The new 2026 cashew nut marketing season in Togo is opening under the banner of regulation, with a particular emphasis on compliance with regulations by all stakeholders (collectors, traders, processors, exporters). The government adopted an interministerial decree at the end of 2025 to amend and supplement existing rules, continuing measures already implemented to regulate permits, trade flows, and export operations.

The Minister of Economy and Strategic Monitoring, Badanam Patoki, who officially launched the 2026 season, stressed the need to further professionalize the sector and ensure compliance with agreements signed between stakeholders. The objective is clear: to move from a sector still characterized by informality and unregulated competition to a better-organized value chain capable of competing with the major producing countries in the sub-region.

Farmgate Prices, 2026 Season, and Pressures on Producer Incomes

For the 2026 season, stakeholders gathered around the Interprofessional Council of the Cashew Sector of Togo (CIFAT) have set the minimum farmgate price at 350 FCFA per kilogram, compared to 425 FCFA/kg in the previous season. This decrease of 75 FCFA/kg comes after a significant price increase in 2025, when the price rose from 325 to 425 FCFA/kg to improve producer profitability.

According to CIFAT President Mawuko Komlan Gozan, the new price was calculated based on the operating cost of one hectare of cashew trees, in order to preserve producers’ margins despite the nominal decrease. He also points out that price levels in Togo remain aligned with those of neighboring countries such as Côte d’Ivoire (400 FCFA/kg), Burkina Faso (385 FCFA/kg), and Benin (385 FCFA/kg), which helps limit the risk of uncontrolled exports to border markets.

Professionalization, Moratorium, and Market Discipline

Beyond price, the authorities primarily want to bring order to the collection and transport of raw cashew nuts to processing centers and Lomé. Stakeholders are therefore granted an exceptional four-week moratorium, starting from the official launch of the season, before any shipments of cashew nuts are transported from the interior of the country to the capital, in order to prevent early speculation and market distortions.

This year’s theme – “Regulation of the cashew sector in Togo: roles and responsibilities of stakeholders” – reflects the desire to empower each link in the chain, from producer to exporter. The minister called on processing units to increase their supplies, while announcing “specific measures” to facilitate their access to raw materials and boost local job creation.

A strategic challenge: focusing on local processing and regional competitiveness

Behind this stricter regulation lies a significant economic and strategic challenge for Togo. The country aims to gradually increase its production – approximately 45,000 tons are expected for the 2026 season – while capturing a growing share of the value through local processing (nuts, derivatives, and agro-industrial products).

The creation of the Cashew Sector Coordination Committee, the issuance of permits to buyers and exporters, and support for the dissemination of improved plant material and nut traceability illustrate this strategy of moving upmarket. For Togolese producers, the challenge will be to adapt to a more standardized environment, one that offers prospects for more stable incomes and integration into better-structured regional and international value chains.