Cooperatives and sustainability: The case of maize producers in the plateaux region of Togo

This study analyzed the influence of the producer's organizational form (individual or cooperative) on the three dimensions (economic, social and environmental) of sustainability in the Plateaux Region of Togo. An innovative approach called Deep Participatory Indicator-Based (DPIB) was used to target the analysis at the producer local level. The environmental sustainability score was above average for individual producers compared to cooperatives. Economic sustainability score is not related to the producer's organization form. Social sustainability was not dependent on the form of organization. The analyses led to participatory planning and actions based on three cooperative principles. Actions based on the seventh cooperative principle – Concern for Community - raise awareness among cooperators producers on the importance of carrying out social works, agro-ecological practices and sustainable agriculture for community members. The actions related to the fifth and sixth cooperative principles – Education, Training & Information and Cooperation among Cooperatives, strengthen the capacities of cooperatives on the need to seek higher quality markets and inform coops in the region about opportunities for combined marketing actions.