Niger’s agrifood system structure and drivers of transformation
Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa, and most of the population relies on subsistence farming. The country faces considerable food security challenges due to a combination of recurring droughts, desertification, population growth, and political instability. The World Food Program estimates...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Brief |
| Language: | Inglés |
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International Food Policy Research Institute
2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131435 |
| _version_ | 1855531898201178112 |
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| author | Diao, Xinshen Ellis, Mia Randriamamonjy, Josee Thurlow, James Ulimwengu, John M. Pauw, Karl |
| author_browse | Diao, Xinshen Ellis, Mia Pauw, Karl Randriamamonjy, Josee Thurlow, James Ulimwengu, John M. |
| author_facet | Diao, Xinshen Ellis, Mia Randriamamonjy, Josee Thurlow, James Ulimwengu, John M. Pauw, Karl |
| author_sort | Diao, Xinshen |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa, and most of the population relies on subsistence farming. The country faces considerable food security challenges due to a combination of recurring droughts, desertification, population growth, and political instability. The World Food Program estimates that around 1.5 million people in Niger—roughly 6 percent of the population—are food insecure (WFP 2020). Agriculture plays a pivotal role in Niger’s economy, employing more than 80 percent of workers and contributing around 40 percent of GDP. The agricultural system is largely rainfed and productive activities are concentrated in the southern part of the country, particularly in the regions along the Niger River. Only 15 percent of the country’s land is arable, and rainfall is seasonal and highly variable. Millet, sorghum, cowpeas, and groundnuts are the major food crops, while pastoralism is a key component of the agricultural system, particularly in the arid regions in the north of the country. Despite the dominance of agriculture, Niger is a net food importer as agricultural production falls short of domestic food needs (FAO 2018). The government implemented the 3N Initiative (Nigeriens Nourishing Nigeriens) to address the root causes of food insecurity. This initiative aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices, enhance the resilience of farmers to climate change, and improve access to food (IFAD 2020). While rural households produce a significant amount of their own food, the importance of market purchases as a determinant of food security cannot be overstated. Market purchases are the primary food access strategy for Nigeriens for 8–9 months of the year. This highlights the importance not only of primary agricultural production, but also the broader agrifood system (AFS) in ensuring year-round access and availability of nutritious foods. Hence, in this brief we look beyond primary agriculture to understand the performance of Niger’s broader AFS and how it is contributing to growth and transformation in the country. |
| format | Brief |
| id | CGSpace131435 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | International Food Policy Research Institute |
| publisherStr | International Food Policy Research Institute |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1314352025-11-06T04:38:22Z Niger’s agrifood system structure and drivers of transformation Diao, Xinshen Ellis, Mia Randriamamonjy, Josee Thurlow, James Ulimwengu, John M. Pauw, Karl agrifood systems value chains markets agriculture labour productivity off-farm employment poverty diet quality jobs development gross national product millet sorghum ruminants Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa, and most of the population relies on subsistence farming. The country faces considerable food security challenges due to a combination of recurring droughts, desertification, population growth, and political instability. The World Food Program estimates that around 1.5 million people in Niger—roughly 6 percent of the population—are food insecure (WFP 2020). Agriculture plays a pivotal role in Niger’s economy, employing more than 80 percent of workers and contributing around 40 percent of GDP. The agricultural system is largely rainfed and productive activities are concentrated in the southern part of the country, particularly in the regions along the Niger River. Only 15 percent of the country’s land is arable, and rainfall is seasonal and highly variable. Millet, sorghum, cowpeas, and groundnuts are the major food crops, while pastoralism is a key component of the agricultural system, particularly in the arid regions in the north of the country. Despite the dominance of agriculture, Niger is a net food importer as agricultural production falls short of domestic food needs (FAO 2018). The government implemented the 3N Initiative (Nigeriens Nourishing Nigeriens) to address the root causes of food insecurity. This initiative aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices, enhance the resilience of farmers to climate change, and improve access to food (IFAD 2020). While rural households produce a significant amount of their own food, the importance of market purchases as a determinant of food security cannot be overstated. Market purchases are the primary food access strategy for Nigeriens for 8–9 months of the year. This highlights the importance not only of primary agricultural production, but also the broader agrifood system (AFS) in ensuring year-round access and availability of nutritious foods. Hence, in this brief we look beyond primary agriculture to understand the performance of Niger’s broader AFS and how it is contributing to growth and transformation in the country. 2023-07-10 2023-08-08T09:32:57Z 2023-08-08T09:32:57Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131435 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Diao, Xinshen; Ellis, Mia; Randriamamonjy, Josee; Thurlow, James; Ulimwengu, John M.; and Pauw, Karl. 2023. Niger’s agrifood system structure and drivers of transformation. Agrifood System Diagnostics Country Series 13. https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136798. |
| spellingShingle | agrifood systems value chains markets agriculture labour productivity off-farm employment poverty diet quality jobs development gross national product millet sorghum ruminants Diao, Xinshen Ellis, Mia Randriamamonjy, Josee Thurlow, James Ulimwengu, John M. Pauw, Karl Niger’s agrifood system structure and drivers of transformation |
| title | Niger’s agrifood system structure and drivers of transformation |
| title_full | Niger’s agrifood system structure and drivers of transformation |
| title_fullStr | Niger’s agrifood system structure and drivers of transformation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Niger’s agrifood system structure and drivers of transformation |
| title_short | Niger’s agrifood system structure and drivers of transformation |
| title_sort | niger s agrifood system structure and drivers of transformation |
| topic | agrifood systems value chains markets agriculture labour productivity off-farm employment poverty diet quality jobs development gross national product millet sorghum ruminants |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131435 |
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