Togo’s savannah honey market creates a buzz

World Today

Togo’s savannah areas have long been home to beekeeping, due to its tropical climate. As more companies set up shop, the honey industry is set to boom. CCTV Africa’s Maria Galang reported this story from Togo.

The NGO “IT Village” based in Dapaong, Togo, specializes in making “savannah honey”. The organization trains locals about international standards of producing honey. Every year the organization produces 20 metric tons of honey.

The organization sends a sample of the honey to Germany to be tested after every harvest, manager Ambroise Toglo said.

“Therein lays the authenticity of our honey, because the results prove that ‘savannah honey’ is a quality honey, and it allows our consumers to really believe in the purity of our product,” Toglo said. “Concerning the quality, we don’t add water or chemicals. That’s why our honey is certified by the famous Food Institute of Germany. Our honey is produced in the technical University Bonita Haus, a University of German initiative funded by German partners.”

Once the honey passes the test it is processed through dripping, and then reamed, filtered, and pumped before finally put in pots, Djadjeb Lamboni, stimulator of Savannah honey said.

The association offers tourists a unique opportunity to interact with beekeepers and visitors get the chance to taste varieties including Papri, Dapaong of Barkoissi, Borgou and Malagou.

IT Village also sells its honey products to Benin and Burkina Faso. It aims to access other markets in the West Africa region by modernizing production and aggressively marketing its savannah honey.