Increasing food assistance needs in the north at the start of the rainy season

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In April 2026, food assistance needs are expected to begin increasing gradually with the onset of the lean season, particularly in the insecure northern regions. Most households are still able to meet their food needs with food stocks from the previous agricultural season, as well as off-season production, relatively stable availability of staple foods, and an overall decline in some prices, temporarily easing pressure on food access. However, in Kpendjal and Kpendjal-Ouest prefectures, instability is severely limiting populations’ access to agricultural land, disrupting trade networks, and restricting market access, thereby weakening household livelihoods. Food consumption gaps are likely to widen further with the gradual establishment of the lean season.
In northern Togo, the spread of the conflict from the Sahel into Savanes Region is increasing insecurity and causing population displacement. The state of emergency for security remains in effect, and defense forces continue to strengthen their presence through patrols and surveillance operations, especially in border areas. The region remains affected by diffuse insecurity despite a visible relative calm, with a climate of constant vigilance, occasional movement restrictions, and disrupted economic activities in some rural localities.
Between March and April 2026, markets remained generally well supplied, and food access remained broadly sufficient due to the availability of off-season production and government price-control measures. Prices of several staple foods such as maize, cowpeas, and red sorghum remained below the five-year average, temporarily supporting food access for poor households. However, tensions persist in some areas of the Savanes Region due to insufficient supply amid strong demand linked to internally displaced persons and Burkinabè refugees, as well as disruptions in trade flows, particularly in the insecurity-affected Kpendjal prefecture. The price of locally milled rice recorded a slight increase of 2 percent compared with the five-year average, with much sharper increases in Assoli (47 percent), Ogou (26 percent), and Danyi (20 percent), driven by strong market demand and supply constraints. In addition, tensions in the Middle East could increase fuel, transport, and imported input costs, placing additional pressure on markets and the cost of living. Government fuel subsidies and national fertilizer stocks continue to limit the direct impacts on households and the agricultural season in the short to medium term.
In April, Togo is in the middle of the rainy season in the south, while the north is gradually entering the period of first rains. In the south, rainfall is supporting the planting of maize, rice, cowpeas, and sometimes cassava by improving soil moisture conditions. In the north, the first rains remain irregular, but households continue land preparation and the beginning of plowing activities. Government support through the distribution of agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, extension services for producers, and improved access to rural financing is expected to support agricultural activities.

Recommended citation: FEWS NET. Togo Key Message Update April - September 2026: Increasing food assistance needs in the north at the start of the rainy season, 2026.

This Key Message Update provides a high-level analysis of current acute food insecurity conditions and any changes to FEWS NET's latest projection of acute food insecurity outcomes in the specified geography. Learn more here.