Niger

The RFS Niger project aims to combat the main drivers of environmental degradation through the promotion of a holistic and integrated approach to improve the productivity of agricultural systems. 

The project is delivered through two interrelated components: 

1. Promoting sustainable family farming to allow rural producers, including women and youth, to diversify their production, increase their yields and build their capacities to adapt to external shocks, notably those related to climate. 
2. Enhancing access to markets to help farmers efficiently market any production surplus in semi-wholesale markets. These markets supply the centres of national consumption and transboundary markets. 

Intervention are being supported through the strengthening of institutional capacity, both at the national level with the Nigeriens Feed Nigeriens Initiative (i3N) and at local level local planning processes.     

The project aims to meet the following targets:

Sustainable family farming promoted to allow rural producers to diversify their production, increase their yields and build their capacities to adapt to external shocks.

• Establish 20,500 ha under soil and water conservation and pastoral land management.
• Establish 10,000 ha under water mobilisation infrastructure and 7,500 ha under irrigation equipment and infrastructure.
• Establish 190,000 ha with assisted natural regeneration, improved seed varieties, and animal drawn cultivation.

Access to markets enhanced to help farmers efficiently market any production surplus in semi-wholesale markets. 

• Construct 9 wholesale markets and 18 crop collection facilities.
• Construct and rehabilitate 850 km of rural roads linking production areas to collection centres and wholesale markets. 
• Support regional transport corridors and cross-border trade (through, for example, the West African Network of Cereals).  

The lead agency for the RFS Niger project at the national level is the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, which works closely with the High Commission for the Nigeriens Feed Nigeriens Initiative (HCi3N). Major stakeholders in the project include the Regional Directorate of the Environment, Water User Associations, local authorities (communes), regional and departmental services for waterworks, specialized service providers, and the Regional Agriculture Chambers.

The programme also engages local research institutions and centres of excellence for expertise on agricultural practices and innovative planting materials. These include the National Institute for Agricultural Research of Niger and the International Centre for Research in the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The AGRHYMET Regional Centre is involved in the observation and management of climate risks.