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Agriculture 

Fruits and Vegetables and Livestock/Pastoralism are sub-sectors of SNV Niger's engagement in Agriculture. More specifically, we support the value chains onion, cowpea and livestock / dairy products to increase incomes and create employment for small-holder producers.

SNV advisers work in close cooperation with government institutions on decentralised and national level since good governance is a key element for sustainable development.

SNV Niger contributes to the development of the onion and cowpea value chains from production to processing and transformation, commercialisation and marketing by:

  • Creating effective and sustainable linkages between producer organisations and other stakeholders in the value chain: Successful examples from Maradi and Zinder, in particular, connecting research institutes INRAN and IITA with farmers. In this way producers gain access to innovative research results and share improved production techniques.
  • Enhancing capacities of the rural poor to develop businesses as they lack professional skills to access markets and seize commercialisation opportunities. 
  • Improving decentralised governance for durable solutions to food security management and food sovereignty.
  • Strengthening women's positions at different levels of the value chain in terms of participation, decision making and management.
 
   
 
 

     Discussing an actor constellation map
 
   
 

Cooperation in the onion value chain  

The Nigerien onion value chain is to become more inclusive if the stakeholders start implementing any one of the 25 resolutions decided on during the "Peeling the Onion" workshop in Birni N'Konni. Key actors gathered there for a participatory workshop from November 29th - December 3d, 2010 to dicuss the findings resulting from the Action Research undertaken jointly by SNV Niger and the Centre of Innovation at Wageningen University, Netherlands.

The 25 Konni resolutions are available here (in French).

The workshop report is available here (in French).
 
   
 

Action Research

The 2010 Action Research by SNV Niger/Tahoua and Wageningen University's Centre for Innovation brings to light the history of the onion trade in Niger, its economic significance and potentials, and major levers in the fields of production, conservation and warrantage. Findings available now:

  • The history of the onion: Testimony of two pioniers in the value chain (available here in French)
  • The significance of the onion in Nigerien socio-economic life: Context and Action plan (available here in French)
  • Storage and conservation practices: Technical advice to reduce loss (available here in French)
  • Quality seeds: Harvest double the amount of bulbs and use half as much water (available here in French)
  • Storage credit: The onion value chain is geared for seasonal credit (available here in French)