Niger's Minister of Agriculture and Livestock outlined priority actions for achieving food security on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Niamey, at a conference initiated by the Cercle Indépendant de Réflexion et d’Actions Citoyennes (CIRAC). The Minister stated that the President of the Republic, Head of State, His Excellency General of the Army Abdourahamane Tiani, has made food sovereignty a major public priority.
The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock emphasized that "food sovereignty is neither a slogan nor a simple sectoral ambition. It now constitutes an essential pillar of national Refounding." He added, "Our historical responsibility is therefore clear: to make Niger a country capable of sustainably feeding its population, valorizing its resources, and progressively reducing its dependence on external markets." This vision, he noted, "obliges us to profoundly transform our agricultural, pastoral, and agri-food systems." The Minister noted key areas, including water management, agricultural mechanization, an integrated seed policy, land tenure security, and the development of promising sectors.
Defining Food Sovereignty
Food sovereignty, as defined by Niger's Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, guarantees every Nigerien the fundamental right to feed themselves with dignity. This right is to be achieved using the nation's own resources, skills, lands, waters, know-how, and creative genius. The Minister stated that Niger's historical responsibility is to become a country capable of sustainably feeding its population, valorizing its resources, and progressively reducing its dependence on external markets. He emphasized, "Notre responsabilité historique est donc claire: faire du Niger un pays capable de nourrir durablement sa population, de valoriser ses ressources et de réduire progressivement sa dépendance vis-à-vis des marchés extérieurs." This vision, he added, "nous oblige et nous impose de transformer profondément nos systèmes agricoles, pastoraux et agroalimentaires."
The Minister noted the rural world's significant contribution, representing 40% of the GDP. He outlined several key areas for transformation, including water management and irrigation, agricultural mechanization suited to Niger’s realities, an integrated and sovereign seed policy, secure land tenure, and the development of promising crop, animal, and fishing sectors. Other priorities include sustainable production intensification, local industrial processing, strategic storage and logistical sovereignty, innovation, research, digitalization of agricultural services, access to financing and agricultural insurance, professionalization of actors, and youth entrepreneurship. The conference, which commenced on Saturday, July 4, 2026, was scheduled to conclude on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
Presidential Vision and Priorities
Colonel Mahaman Elhadj Ousmane presided over the opening ceremony of a conference on 'Food sovereignty in Niger: stakes, challenges and prospects'. During the event, food sovereignty was described as an essential pillar of national rebuilding. General Abdourahamane Tiani, who has been at the head of Niger since July 26, 2023, has made food sovereignty a significant public priority.
Colonel Ousmane emphasized that Niger's historical responsibility is clear: "Notre responsabilité historique est donc claire: faire du Niger un pays capable de nourrir durablement sa population, de valoriser ses ressources et de réduire progressivement sa dépendance vis-à-vis des marchés extérieurs." He added that this vision requires a profound transformation of the country's agricultural, pastoral, and agri-food systems. "Cette vision nous oblige et nous impose de transformer profondément nos systèmes agricoles, pastoraux et agroalimentaires," he stated.
Addressing the path forward, Colonel Ousmane outlined several key areas for development, including water management and irrigation, agricultural mechanization suited to Niger’s realities, an integrated and sovereign seed policy, secure land tenure, and the development of promising crop, animal, and fishing sectors. He also noted the importance of sustainable production intensification, local industrial processing, strategic storage, logistical sovereignty, innovation, research, and the digitalization of agricultural services. Access to financing and agricultural insurance, professionalization of actors, and youth entrepreneurship were also cited as key elements. Colonel Ousmane asserted that "L’histoire nous enseigne que les grandes nations sont celles qui savent transformer les crises en opportunités." He added, "Notre pays possède les ressources humaines, les terres aménageables, les savoir-faire pastoraux et agricoles ainsi que l’énergie nécessaire pour relever ce défi." He concluded, "C’est donc avant tout dans la mobilisation de notre intelligence collective, dans la valorisation de nos compétences et dans la confiance en nos capacités que réside la clé de notre réussite," and stated, "In fine ne jamais oublier qu’un peuple souverain est un peuple qui peut nourrir sa population et se développer avec ses propres forces."
Challenges and Resource Allocation
Food sovereignty constitutes an exigency of national security, a factor of social stability, an instrument of economic sovereignty, and a lever of collective dignity, according to Niger's Minister of Agriculture and Livestock. The Minister further stated that food sovereignty is one of the "absolute" priorities of the presidential program of General Abdourahamane Tiani. The conference, which commenced on Saturday, July 4, 2026, aimed to address these critical issues over two days.
Despite more than 80% of Niger's population living from the agricultural sector, the rural world is allocated only 10 to 15% of budgetary resources. Colonel Mahaman Elhadj Ousmane, presiding over the opening ceremony, noted specific areas for development, stating, "la maîtrise de l’eau et le développement de l’irrigation; la mécanisation agricole adaptée aux réalités du Niger; une politique semencière intégrée et souveraine; la sécurisation foncière; le développement des filières porteuses végétales, animales et halieutiques; l’intensification durable des productions; la transformation industrielle locale; le stockage stratégique et la souveraineté logistique; l’innovation, la recherche et la digitalisation des services agricoles; l’accès au financement et aux assurances agricoles…Et la professionnalisation des acteurs et l’entrepreneuriat des jeunes."
Colonel Ousmane emphasized the historical responsibility facing the nation. He declared, "Notre responsabilité historique est donc claire: faire du Niger un pays capable de nourrir durablement sa population, de valoriser ses ressources et de réduire progressivement sa dépendance vis-à-vis des marchés extérieurs." He added that this vision necessitates a profound transformation of the country's agricultural, pastoral, and agri-food systems. "Cette vision nous oblige et nous impose de transformer profondément nos systèmes agricoles, pastoraux et agroalimentaires," he said.
Colonel Ousmane drew lessons from history, asserting, "L’histoire nous enseigne que les grandes nations sont celles qui savent transformer les crises en opportunités." He expressed confidence in Niger's potential, stating, "Notre pays possède les ressources humaines, les terres aménageables, les savoir-faire pastoraux et agricoles ainsi que l’énergie nécessaire pour relever ce défi." He concluded by showing the importance of collective effort, noting, "C’est donc avant tout dans la mobilisation de notre intelligence collective, dans la valorisation de nos compétences et dans la confiance en nos capacités que réside la clé de notre réussite," and reminded attendees, "In fine ne jamais oublier qu’un peuple souverain est un peuple qui peut nourrir sa population et se développer avec ses propres forces."
