Niger - Agricultural Development Support Project in Zinder Region

The Agricultural Development Support Project in Zinder Region complies fully with the poverty reduction strategy, and is based on the Niger Government’s agricultural policy which aims at rational management of natural resources and food security. The project has simple techniques, which can be adopted very easily by the beneficiaries, and centres on the control of surface water. The proposed approach is intended to encourage local initiative and self-promotion of rural areas, within a secure land system in which farmers and grazers can work together in harmony. It also complies with the options of the regional economic and social development plan for Zinder for the 2000-2004 period; the plan contains activities for rural areas to restore and protect productive bases. The project concerns a region in Niger that has been extremely hard hit by drought and environmental degradation, but which nevertheless abounds with great potentials of undeveloped arable lands and available labour. The project will focus its operations on agricultural and pastoral development, and create favourable conditions for using runoff water. The proposed developments (micro-dams, water spreading thresholds, deep ponds, etc.) will facilitate water spreading and infiltration, thereby creating favourable conditions for intensive production of crops and livestock, without upsetting the farmers’ habits. The project is also intended to provide specific assistance to the most vulnerable groups, whose major concerns are food insecurity and low incomes of households. By giving priority to simple techniques that can be adopted by poor people, the project will eliminate the uncertainty and risk factors on the lives of the rural population who are often forced to develop survival strategies during periods of food shortage. Carrying out special activities for women would improve their living conditions by reducing the time and difficulty of their housework and by increasing their incomes. The project will be implemented over a period of five years (2002-2006).