The society and economy in Niger highly depend on agriculture. This sector is strongly influenced by weather-related factors and highly vulnerable to climate change. Currently, only limited information on climate risks and its impacts as well as the effectiveness and feasibility of potential adaptation options is available. A recently published study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) aims to close this research gap. Its title is “Climate Risk Analysis for Identifying and Weighing Adaptation Strategies in Niger’s Agricultural Sector”. The findings of this study can help to guide local decision makers on adaptation planning and implementation in Niger and also increase the resilience of agriculture in the country. The full study can be downloaded in English and French.

As co-authors of the study, we assessed the cost effectiveness of potential adaptation measures. The criteria cost effectiveness is one of several criteria against which potential adaptation measures are assessed. Local stakeholders selected the following adaptation measures in participatory workshops: (1) Agroforestry and farmer managed natural regeneration of trees, (2) Integrated soil fertility management, (3) Irrigation for counter-season agriculture and (4) Improved fodder management for livestock. In addition to the cost-effectiveness, risk mitigation, suitability for local conditions, potential co-benefits and further criteria were assessed. All four adaptation strategies are economically beneficial, risk-independent, with a medium to high risk mitigation potential, and can bring about various co-benefits.

For more information, please have a look at our project side where we describe all our contributions to the AGRICA project.