Stakeholders in Togo have begun efforts to restructure and strengthen the country’s shea sector as industry leaders and policymakers seek to promote sustainability, improve production quality and expand economic opportunities for rural communities.
More than 150 participants gathered in Kara for a national consultation focused on the future of the shea industry. The meeting brought together producers, processors, exporters, government officials and development partners to examine the sector’s current challenges and explore strategies for long term growth.
The forum was organised under the theme “The Shea Sector Facing Sustainability Challenges: Stocktaking and Prospects,” and forms part of a broader initiative aimed at creating a new industry governance structure known as the Conseil interprofessionnel de la filière karité du Togo.
The proposed body is expected to serve as the interprofessional council for the country’s shea value chain, bringing together key actors across production, processing and export segments to coordinate policies and strengthen industry regulation.
Participants used the meeting to review the economic, environmental and social challenges facing the shea sector while identifying ways to improve competitiveness in both regional and international markets.
One major area of discussion focused on the sustainable management of shea parklands, which are critical to maintaining production levels. Shea trees grow naturally across much of West Africa, and the nuts they produce are processed into shea butter, a widely used ingredient in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food products.
Industry leaders emphasised the need to protect these natural ecosystems while supporting assisted natural regeneration programmes aimed at increasing the number of productive shea trees.
Experts warn that climate change, deforestation and land use pressures could threaten the long term viability of shea parklands if conservation measures are not strengthened.
Another priority discussed at the meeting was improving the quality of shea nuts and increasing local processing capacity. At present, much of the region’s shea output is exported in raw form, limiting the economic value retained by local producers.
Strengthening domestic processing could allow Togolese businesses to capture more value from the global shea market by exporting higher value products such as refined shea butter used in cosmetics and food industries.
Participants also highlighted the importance of improving the organisation of producer cooperatives and expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Across West Africa, women play a central role in harvesting, processing and trading shea products, making the industry an important source of income for rural households.
According to industry representatives, improving access to markets and strengthening cooperative structures could help small scale producers secure better prices and increase their participation in international value chains.
Globally, Togo ranks as the seventh largest producer of shea nuts, with annual production estimated between 35,000 and 50,000 metric tonnes. Despite this position, industry experts believe the country has significant untapped potential if supply chains are better organised and investments are made in processing and marketing.
During the forum, Togolese Minister for Grassroots Development, Youth and Youth Employment, Elisabeth Essodolom Pali-Tchalla highlighted the economic importance of the sector, noting that thousands of rural women rely on shea related activities for their livelihoods.
She stressed that while the industry already contributes to local development, it still faces structural challenges that limit its growth potential. These include limited processing capacity, weak market coordination and environmental pressures affecting shea parklands.
Pali Tchalla called on stakeholders across the value chain to develop new strategies that would transform the sector into a more organised and competitive industry capable of driving sustainable development.
The creation of the new interprofessional council is expected to play a key role in this transformation by improving coordination between producers, processors, traders and policymakers.
As global demand for natural cosmetic ingredients continues to grow, policymakers in Togo hope that strengthening governance and sustainability practices within the shea sector will help the country capture greater value from the expanding international market.
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