IFDC presented its research products and technologies to the public during the celebration of its 50th anniversary in Niger on April 25.
Under the theme: “IFDC, 50 Years of Developing Agriculture from the Ground Up,” the launch of the Open Door was led by Bachir Ousseini, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and His Excellency Paul Tholen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Niger.
“IFDC’s technologies contribute to the food and nutritional sovereignty to which our leaders attach so much importance.”
Bachir Ousseini, Secretary General of the Niger Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
“From N’Guigmi to Ayorou and from Bilma to Gaya, Nigerien farmers are making perfect use of good agricultural practices, such as microdosing, which is the fruit of IFDC’s research, to improve crop yields,” shares Bachir Bounou Issoufa, IFDC Country Director of Niger.
The ceremony ended with an official handover of equipment to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock by the Integrated Seed Sector Development in the Sahel (ISSD/Sahel) project, a donation to the General Directorate of Agriculture, to renew and modernize their intervention capacity. This included dozens of tablets, laptops, a printer, and around 30 field kits of boots, goggles, and flashlights.
The Open Door event gave IFDC partners the opportunity to set up a booth to present the results from and products of their partnership with IFDC. The event also featured two panels led by researchers, experts, and resource persons on the following themes:
- “Typology – Characteristics of Soils in Niger, What Adapted Fertilization Solutions?”
- “Access to Inputs (Seeds and Fertilizers) and Financing of the Input Sector in Niger: What Are the Possible Solutions?”
The Niger Open Door event highlighted the significant impact of its research and technologies on agricultural development and food security. With strong support from local and international governments and organizations, IFDC reaffirmed its commitment to fostering sustainable agriculture through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships.
More information on the current projects in Niger:
- Soil Values: Funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), Soil Values is a transformative initiative set to establish sustainable soil fertility management as a cornerstone within the farming systems of the Sahelian and Guinea Savanna regions by focusing on Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM).
- Integrated Seed Sector Development in the Sahel (ISSD/Sahel): The ISSD/Sahel project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, seeks to increase rural incomes, improve rural employment, and ensure the food and nutrition security of households in Mali and Niger by establishing a dynamic seed system.
- Toward Sustainable Clusters in Agribusiness through Learning in Entrepreneurship (2SCALE): 2SCALE is an incubator program that manages a portfolio of public-private partnerships for inclusive business in agri-food sectors and industries. 2SCALE offers a range of support services to its business champions and partners, enabling them to produce, transform, and supply quality food products.
- Fertilizer Sector Reform Support Project in Niger (PARSEN): The PARSEN project, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation/Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Niger, aims to increase fertilizer use in Niger and make appropriate fertilizers available and accessible to farmers, especially smallholder farmers, across the country.
- SOILS-Space to Place (SOILS-S2P): Funded by USAID, the primary goal of the SOILS-S2P initiative is to enhance fertilizer use efficiency among resource-constrained smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This intervention will reduce fertilizer wastage by 60% over the next two to three cropping seasons to achieve optimal economic returns and improve productivity.
