Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.A. — A working paper recently released by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska has made a strong case for expanding investments in promoting small-scale irrigation in Niger.
The paper, "Opportunities and Research Gaps for Promoting Irrigation and Mechanization Markets in Niger," by DWFI Global Fellow Douglas J. Merrey, Ph.D, reviews agricultural water management in Niger, addressing challenges, successes, and research needs to improve food security and economic growth in one of the world's poorest countries.
Niger faces significant challenges, with most of its 26.2 million people engaged in rainfed agriculture, highly vulnerable to erratic rainfall, drought, and floods. The country's agriculture is largely rainfed, making it susceptible to unpredictable weather patterns and leading to widespread food insecurity, malnutrition, and poverty.
The study, commissioned in 2024 through DWFI’s Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Irrigation and Mechanization Systems (ILIMS), synthesizes lessons from past experiences and identifies key research and development opportunities. It notes that while large-scale, government-managed irrigation schemes have received substantial funding, small-scale irrigation (SSI) and climate-smart agricultural practices have shown promising results but have been underfunded.
Key Findings and Opportunities:
- Significant Groundwater Potential: Recent studies now indicate approximately 50 billion cubic meters of available groundwater in the country with an estimated annual recharge of 2 billion cubic meters, qualifying Niger as the most groundwater-rich country in the region. However, Niger is currently using only about 1% of its potential water supply. Insufficient financial, institutional and human resources result in the country’s water resources being largely underutilized. They have immense potential for sustainable irrigated agricultural development.
- Success of Small-Scale Irrigation and Climate-Smart Agriculture: Investments in SSI systems (generally those under a hectare) have demonstrated benefits, increasing food production, improving food security, promoting economic growth and enabling farmers to adapt to weather variability. These initiatives include market gardens for vegetables and fruits, climate-smart agricultural practices like "half-moons" (water and soil retention structures), and farmer-managed natural regeneration. Solar-powered irrigation systems, in particular, hold enormous potential for transformative growth in food production.
- Persistent Challenges: Despite efforts, large-scale irrigation initiatives continue to face issues with infrastructure deterioration, financial sustainability, and farmer profitability due to small landholdings and high operational costs. Poor maintenance leads to a continuous need for their rehabilitation.
- Research Gaps: The report identifies critical areas for future research, including the long-term impacts of SSI technologies on household income, gender parity, and the environment. There is also a notable lack of research on the safe use of wastewater for irrigation and strategies to promote agricultural mechanization beyond irrigation technologies.
Merrey emphasizes the need for in-depth, interdisciplinary research to address these gaps and maximize the impact of investments in Niger's agricultural sector. "Agricultural water management is crucial for rural prosperity in Niger, but it's certainly not the only factor at play," said Merrey. In the report, Merrey calls for long-term, patient engagement from development partners to overcome complex systemic challenges. He also cites crime and violence, as well as politics, as potential hindrances to the work that institutions can perform in the country.
“Despite these challenges, both the need for more applied research and the potential of irrigation and mechanization investments in Niger is great and can profoundly increase food security and improve livelihoods,” said Merrey.
