Small-scale irrigation farming in Niger

completed

Core problem Due to high population growth and stagnating yields, Niger's self-sufficiency in rice has decreased drastically in recent years, creating a supply gap of around 365,000 tonnes that must be closed through imports. Against the backdrop of climatic changes throughout the region, with increasing crop failures and ever more fluctuating world market prices, this strong dependence on imports poses a growing threat to the food security of the Niger population. Module objective The objective is to increase agricultural production by small farmers in the public irrigation perimeters of the Niger River. Key outputs The financed rehabilitation of the ten irrigation perimeters has been completed. The capacities of the cooperatives in the areas of technical maintenance and repair have been strengthened. The capacities of the state administration of public irrigation areas (Office National des Aménagements Hydro-Agricole and Direction Générale du Génie Rural) have been strengthened. Target group The beneficiaries are the predominantly poor small farmers and their families who are organized in cooperatives and manage the irrigation perimeters on an area of 2,532 hectares. With an estimated 8,150 farmers in the ten perimeters, who are on average part of a family of ten, the project reaches a total of around 81,500 people. Contribution to the national implementation of Agenda 2030 The module contributes to the implementation of the second sustainability goal of Agenda 2030 (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture).