This paper analyzes the effects of climatic variables on food crop yields at the prefectural level from 1996 to 2016 in Togo. Using the panel‐corrected standard errors method and panel data from departments in charge of agricultural statistics and meteorology, the results show that meteorological variables have various effects on food crops yields, but the negative effects are dominant. In addition, adaptation strategies through agricultural land reallocation have not enabled farmers to improve food crops yields. There is an urgent need for public authorities to implement actions to strengthen farmers’ resilience through practice adoption and cultural innovations for adaptation to climate change.