PROJECT TOGO

When the forest suddenly swims: Why we are now also breeding fish in Togo

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Fresh fish from our own farm instead of expensive imports: In Togo, we have built an aquaculture facility that solves several problems at once. How a simple idea became a project that creates jobs, provides affordable protein and also ensures fire safety.

Fish in Togo? There was something...

Togo is a narrow coastal strip in West Africa - theoretically perfect for fishing, you might think. The reality is different: The Togolese coast is only 56 kilometers long, and fish stocks in the Gulf of Guinea have been severely depleted by overfishing and climate change. What used to be the main source of protein is now in short supply. Fish has become expensive, is often imported and is simply no longer affordable for many families.

This is exactly where we come in. PROJECT TOGO has always been about more than just planting trees. We create jobs, bring income into the village and ensure that people have a perspective. But what good is the best climate protection if people don't have affordable protein on their plates?

So in spring 2024, we sat there and thought: How can we help even more people? How can we create more jobs? And then came the idea, which was so simple that we wondered why we hadn't thought of it sooner. Why not produce fish ourselves?

From the idea to the finished plant

July 2024: The excavators roll in. Right on the edge of the forest near Aboudjokopé, to the left of the firebreak, something is being built that did not yet exist in the area - a professional fish farm. But first water had to be found. The first well was drilled even before the first sod was turned for the tanks.

Then things really got going: a building with two rooms for the employees, eight tanks in three different sizes (2 small, 4 medium, 2 large), an ingenious drainage system and a collection basin for the waste water. The whole thing was like a big jigsaw puzzle. Every piece had to fit. And every step created new jobs for the local people.

The major construction work was completed at the beginning of 2025. But a fish farm without electricity? Doesn't work. The solution came from the sky: a solar system. Sustainable electricity for sustainable fish farming. The pumps are running, the water is moving, the fish are getting enough oxygen. A second well was drilled - at PROJECT TOGO we always think of plan B.

The first fish and the great interest

In mid-June 2025, the time had come: 800 young tilapia fish, two different species, are now swimming in two tanks. The villagers' interest is huge. People come by every day, look at everything, ask questions. "What is that?" "How does it work?" "Can I work here?" We hear the last question particularly often.

Our fish farming expert - a qualified farmer specializing in aquaculture - is currently the main person in charge. He is still working alone, but that will change quickly. More production means more work, and the planned vegetable project needs extra hands. That is exactly what PROJECT TOGO is all about: we are not just creating any old jobs, but meaningful jobs that give people a real perspective.

How fish farming works

Fish farming is like a conveyor belt, only with live animals. The fry start out in the small tanks, then move to the medium tanks for the main growth phase and are transferred to the large tanks shortly before they are sold. 5-6 months from fry to ready-to-sell animal.

The pH value, temperature, oxygen content and cleanliness are checked daily. The water is changed every few days. The waste water is drained into a collection tank where it is collected and used in the future for a follow-up project with vegetable cultivation. This means that the nutrients contained in the wastewater and the water itself can be reused for vegetable production. Circular economy in perfection. And every step creates income.

What comes next

In 3-5 months, the first fish will be ready for sale. This will be an event in the village. Fresh fish, locally produced, affordable. No imported goods, no overpriced prices. The proceeds? All of it goes to the local Togolese association and flows back into other social projects. A cycle that works.

Oh yes, we almost forgot: We now also have water for fire protection. And the nutrient-rich waste water is perfect for the planned vegetable cultivation. Sometimes three problems can be solved with one solution. What started as a climate protection project has become something much bigger. We are not just creating CO₂ sinks, we are creating the future. Jobs, income, affordable food - all from a single source, all locally.

Sometimes the best climate protection strategy is the one that nobody thought of. In our case, it even floats.

As you can see: Sustainability works best when everyone benefits.