Re-greening efforts in the Sahel region of Niger have led to increased food security. Over 5 million hectares in the Maradi and Zinder regions have seen re-greening since 1955. This has increased cereal production by 500,000 tons annually, helping to address Niger's food deficit of 600,000 tons in 2011-2012. One district in Zinder with high on-farm tree densities consistently produced grain surpluses of over 10,000 tons annually between 2007-2011. Farmers invest in re-greening primarily to improve soil fertility and food production, as well as for firewood, construction wood, and fodder. Incomes have increased for households employing new agroforestry techniques.

1. RE-GREENING IN THE SAHEL:
IMPACT ON FOOD SECURITY

3. 1955
Dynamics of land use
and vegetation in
Southwest Zinder
1975 2005

4. NIGER: 5 million ha in the Maradi
and Zinder Regions

5. IT PRODUCES AN
ADDITIONAL 500,000 TONS
OF CEREALS

6. FOOD DEFICIT IN NIGER IN 2011 -2012:
600,000 TONS

7. Grain surplus Kantché District
(Zinder/Niger). 350,000 inhabitants;
high on-farm tree densities
 2007 + 21,230 ton
 2008 + 36,838 ton
 2009 + 28,122 ton
 2010 + 64,208 ton
 2011 + 13,818 ton
Source: National Committee for the Prevention and Management of
Food Crises and FEWS
Quoted by: Yamba and sambo (2012)

8. Why do farmers invest in the
Kantche District invest in
re-greening?
 Soil fertility 58%
 Food production 25%
 Firewood 12%
 Construction wood 12%
 Fodder 11%
 Etc
Source: Yamba and Sambo (2012)

9. Improved soil fertility and
an increase in fodder production

10. FODDER IS LESS A
CONSTRAINT AND LIVESTOCK
DEPENDS 6 MONTHS/YEAR ON
TREES

11. BAOBABS DOMINATE REGENERATION
IN PARTS MIRRIAH DEPARTMENT
(NIGER)

12. The value of the leaves of one mature baobab
varies from 34 $ to 70 $ per tree
At current cereal prices in Niger one can buy
70 – 175 kg of grain on the market
Source: Yamba and Sambo (2012)

13. AVERAGE ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME
FROM NEW AGROFORESTRY PARKLAND (US $)
Village
Kouka Doukoum Kirou Zedrawa Daré
Samou Doukoum
Degree Haussa
Least 200 40 140 125 135
of
vulnerable
Medium 110 37 120 70 63
vulnerability
Vulnerable
Very 80 83 26 40 100
vulnerable
Extremely 104 50 116 80 45
Source: Yamba and Sambo (2012)

14. Barren land in 1985
now complex
production system

15. and they manage the
tree stock

16. ….TO IMPROVE SOIL FERTILITY AND
INCREASE CROP YIELDS.

18. NEW AGROFORESTS ON MALI’S
SENO PLAINS (450,000 ha)
GRAIN SURPLUS IN 2011: about 50,000 tons

20. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE GROUND

21. FARMERS PRUNE IN JUNE
AND LITTER IMPROVES SOIL
FERTILITY

23. WATER HARVESTING AND AGROFORESTRY
Simple techniques
1990
Zaï Demi lunes
Important impacts
2004
Piliostigma reticulatum Combretum glutinosum

24. THIS WAS BARREN LAND (0 kg/ha)

25. TO FARMERS AGROFORESTRY IS A LOW-COST
WAY TO INTENSIFY AGRICULTURE AND
STABILIZE ACCESS TO FOOD

26. Major agroforestry regions in West Africa
and potential directions of expansion

27. ISAIAH 35: 1
THE DESERT WILL REJOICE AND WILL
BE FLOWERING LIKE A ROSE