Women's Community Gardens in Niger

Climate change increases variability in rainfall, resulting in extreme droughts and floods. This variability significantly impacts Niger’s fragile soil, crop production, and access to potable water– exacerbating pre-existing issues in a country already prone to food crises.  2 Million people are chronically food insecure; 4.5 Million are at risk of becoming food insecure.  The need for sustainable agriculture is clear.

Sustainable food – Sustainable income – Sustainable lives.

RAIN’s Sustainable Agriculture program has provided access to safe drinking water through the installation of 22 wells; increased the variety of nutritious foods available to over 11,000 Nigeriens through the implementation of over 20 community gardens; and helped communities across Niger to turn subsistence agriculture into a business through 3-season drip irrigation and financial literacy.

Last year, 60 gardeners in 3 gardens produced 7160 lbs of harvest.
Lessons on organic agriculture produced 3x the harvest of the previous year.
Lessons on basic business principles produced 5x the profit of the previous year.

But this program is about more than numbers, it's focused on people.  Here are some of our partner's stories:

Hariatou Issifi,lives in Tagantassou and is an active gardener through RAIN’s Sustainable Agriculture initiative.

As a widow, Hariatou is solely responsible for supporting herself and her children. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to grow nutritious food for her family and to supplement her income through crop sales.

This year, she grew varied crops including cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Her lettuce was particularly successful and in addition to growing enough for her family, she was able to put some aside for sales.

The profit she earned allowed her to repay an old debt, pay for her daughter to attend school, and purchase new fabric for her daughter’s clothes for the year.

Salmata, from our Nassilé garden, said this about our program:

“…Before the arrival of RAIN in our village, I did not understand how to practice market gardening; but now I have a perfect knowledge of how to manage, namely the preparation of the soil, the transplanting, the maintenance of the crops, using the drip irrigation system etc… I sell a part of this production, offer social assistance to other people, and I bring a good part to my family for our own consumption…”

Your support makes this project possible.  Thank you for supporting Sustainable food – Sustainable income – Sustainable lives.