Supporting farmers with irrigated horticulture

Context

Niger is susceptible to food shortages due to its geographical location, rapidly growing population and extreme dependency on agriculture. These shortfalls are occurring at increasingly shorter intervals.

Farmers in Niger use rain-fed farming as their main form of cultivation. However, due to climate change, this method is becoming increasingly unreliable and more farmers are turning to irrigated cultivation methods. Despite its aridity, Niger has surprisingly large underground water reserves, but this potential is barely utilised.

Objective

Farmers engaged in irrigated horticulture in the Agadez, Tahoua and Tillaberi regions farm their land in an innovative and environmentally-friendly manner.

Approach

The project promotes the expansion of small-scale irrigation, for example by improving the quality of agricultural advisory services. To achieve this, it trains representatives of agricultural associations as well as private-sector and state services, enabling them to become effective advisors. They also receive support from modern information technology – for example using smartphones to detect pests remotely.

The project also provides support to ensure that irrigated areas can be used on a long-term basis. It teaches the farmers agro-ecological methods to ensure soil fertility. Soil conservation also increases the level of groundwater and prevents soil degradation.

Further funding from the Netherlands provides support with expanding the activities to other areas and promoting more balanced nutrition through vegetable growing.

The consulting company ARGE ECO Consult implements some of the measures.

Last update: April 2023