Niger increases crop yields at Saguia and monitors progress
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In Niger, a government delegation led by Colonel Bilaly Elhadj Gambobo, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, and General Assoumane Abdou Harouna, the Governor of the Niamey region, inspected agricultural infrastructure and farms in the 5th communal district.
The delegation assessed the ongoing agricultural and pastoral campaign, focusing on improvements at the Saguia site.
The Office National d'Aménagement Hydro-Agricole (ONAHA), a national agency for hydro-agricultural development, renovated areas at Saguia-Amont, increasing the cultivated land from 80 to 102 hectares and raising the average yield from 4.9 to 7.9 tonnes per hectare. The inspection also covered demonstration plots testing new fertilizer formulas and a rehabilitated pumping station. Farmers in the Lougal area are successfully growing both millet and niébé, a type of bean, alongside other vegetables like moringa, eggplant, and cucumber.
However, the delegation noted that increasing population and illegal land speculation threaten these agricultural spaces, causing soil erosion and hindering expansion. To support livestock, the government is promoting Maralfalfa, a nutritious forage plant, and plans to distribute cuttings to farmers. The government also committed to providing farmers with fertilizers, certified seeds, and tools, as well as addressing logistical issues, staffing shortages, and infrastructure problems within agricultural services.
