Meet Komla Tsikata
Komla Tsikata is a hard-working Togolese smallholder farmer and part of Deki’s Agricultural Cooperatives Programme, which aims to support small-scale farmers to improve their livelihoods.
In 2020, Komla, alongside 19 other dedicated farmers, founded the Novignon Cooperative in their community, driven by the promise of improving their lives through the comprehensive support of the Deki and IADES Agricultural Cooperative program. For Komla, it was a chance to enhance his knowledge and skills, ultimately uplifting his family's living conditions.
Komla's journey began as a teenager, discovering his entrepreneurial spirit while selling cassava and peanuts to pay for his education. Despite facing financial hurdles, he had to abandon his schooling and venture into full-time fieldwork. Hope lingered as he learned about the profitability of pineapple farming in Kevé, a region known for its tropical climate.
Now in his forties, Komla, residing in Kevé with his wife Akoly and two children, has been a dedicated pineapple farmer for over two decades. Before joining the cooperative, he faced challenges accessing credit and training, relying solely on trial and error. The Agricultural Cooperative program changed the game, providing him with regular training sessions, workshops, and two livelihood development loans.
Recent workshops on product diversification sparked a new strategy for Komla. Instead of just pineapples, he now sells a combination of papayas and chickens, maximizing customer convenience and minimizing waste. Recognizing the impact of climate change on Togo's rainfall patterns, he plans to use his Deki loan to invest in more chickens and guinea fowl, diversifying his farm and building resilience.
Being part of the Novignon Cooperative has opened avenues for Komla to cut expenses and discover new markets. Collaborative efforts allow them to access wholesale prices for seeds and fertilizers, demonstrating the power of collective resource pooling. The cooperative is currently saving up for a tractor to expand their cultivatable land, showing the tangible benefits of their shared commitment.
Despite a setback in his pineapple harvest due to irregular rainfall, Komla remains determined. He plans to increase his pineapple cultivation area and invest in additional guinea fowl, ensuring a secure income. The income generated has already enabled Komla to upgrade his home, replacing the straw roof with sturdy corrugated iron sheets, with further improvements planned for the future.
The Novignon Cooperative envisions a collective future. Their savings aim to invest in transportation for market access and tricycles for each farmer. Long-term goals include acquiring a threshing machine for corn harvests and, understanding climate change threats, a solar panel pump to reduce dependence on rainfall.
Through his perseverance and the support of the cooperative, Komla is not only securing his family's future but actively contributing to the prosperity of the entire Novignon community. As they navigate challenges, the cooperative stands as a testament to the transformative power of unity, sustainable farming practices, and a shared vision for a resilient future.