Cultural evening to promote local cow's milk

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Extract from the article: On Friday 11 October 2024, the community of Peuhl farmers in Togo organised a cultural evening at the CETEF in Lomé to promote local cow's milk, which represents a valuable opportunity to strengthen the dairy industry in Togo. Musical performances an

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On Friday 11 October 2024, the community of Peuhl farmers in Togo organised a cultural evening at the CETEF in Lomé to promote local cow's milk, which represents a valuable opportunity to strengthen the dairy industry in Togo. Musical performances and traditional dances marked the event, which aims to encourage the processing, marketing and consumption of local natural cow's milk and healthy by-products. The initiative is part of the ‘Healthy Wagashi for Optimising the Income of Households Using Local Milk in Northern Togo’ (WOMEN) project initiated by the NGOs Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse (VSF-SUISSE) and Gestion de l'Environnement et Valorisation des Produits Agro Forestiers (GEVAPAF), with financial support from ECOWAS/ARAA and Swiss Cooperation.

The cultural evening to promote local cow's milk is an initiative aimed at raising community awareness of the importance of local milk production and strengthening the milk value chain. The event aims to inform participants about the benefits of local milk, both in nutritional and economic terms. According to Tchanfa M'poh, Women Project Leader at GEVAPAF, «our aim is to raise awareness of the importance of local milk, support local farmers, encourage the development of local farmers’ work and promote the consumption of dairy products from the Savanes region. Togolese people need to be made aware of the importance of buying locally. This will create jobs, boost national milk production, improve health and empower many women, which will ultimately improve our national economy. The Peuhl people identify with livestock farming and dairy production. Milk is much more than just a food for the Peuhl community, not only because of its symbolic value, but also because of the many uses it can be put to in terms of aesthetics, human and animal health, and the financial benefits it brings».

Dairy products, including wagashi, are integrated into various aspects of daily life, from food to therapeutic and aesthetic uses.The Peuhls use milk not only for its nutritional value, but also for its therapeutic properties, making this product a fundamental part of their intangible heritage, says Aladji Tonga Abdoulaye, President of the breeders in the maritime region. «Milk is the cultural heritage of the Peuhl community.The Peuhls contribute to local production with products made in Togo from their main activity, livestock farming.Our products are the result of processing the products of our farms.People need to consume our products, which are also local products, to promote our production», said Aladji Tonga Abdoulaye.

The evening was marked by exchanges on sustainable breeding approaches and the importance of increasing the productivity of native breeds. Speakers discussed issues such as livestock feed and the use of appropriate agro-pastoral methods.Officials stressed the importance of dairy cooperatives, encouraging farmers to organise themselves in order to improve milk collection and processing, which is essential for ensuring the quality and availability of dairy products. Local products such as fresh milk, wagashi cheese, milk yoghurt, foura and traditional couscous were presented by the community.

This cultural evening was also a strategic approach to promoting the integration of the Peuhls into the community, social cohesion and preventing violent extremism.It brought community members together around common initiatives, promoting dialogue and cooperation between the Peuhls and other ethnic groups. This has helped to ease inter-community tensions exacerbated by stigmatisation.

Dairy farming in Togo

Dairy farming by the Peuhls in Togo is deeply rooted in their culture and way of life. This activity, which is part of an agro-pastoral system, plays an essential role not only economically but also socially and culturally. Dairy farming is a significant source of income for the Peuhl community. Dairy products, particularly fresh milk and wagashi cheese, are not only consumed locally but also sold on markets, thereby contributing to the local economy.

The Peuhls breed cows, which are well fed and well adapted to Togo's climatic conditions. These animals are valued for their ability to produce litres of milk. Pasture management and the selection of suitable breeds are skills passed down from generation to generation, underlining the importance of traditional knowledge in this activity. Women play a dominant role in milk production, managing the milk, processing it into by-products and marketing it. The division of labour helps them to assert their position within the community and preserve the knowledge associated with this activity.

William O.