The Centre Régional AGRHYMET recently held its academic intake ceremony for new students in Niamey. The event marked the beginning of the academic year for 64 Technicians Supérieurs and 72 engineers. The Technicians Supérieurs include 22 in Agrometeorology, 15 in Plant Protection, and 23 in Instruments and Micro-informatics. The engineers comprise 25 in Agrometeorology, 16 in Instruments and Micro-informatics, 16 in Hydrology, and 15 in Plant Protection.
The ceremony was presided over by Henri Songoti, representative of the Director-General of AGRHYMET. He emphasized that the training is part of AGRHYMET's mandate to train and inform in areas of food security, water management, desertification, and climate change in the Sahel and West Africa. Songoti highlighted the centre's impact on the economic and social sectors of its member states.
The Ministry of Agricultural Production and Industrialization of Chad and AGRHYMET signed a protocol agreement in August to train 129 students. The agreement aims to provide training for Chadian students in various fields. Songoti expressed gratitude to the Chadian authorities for their renewed confidence in AGRHYMET.
The students will acquire in-depth knowledge, develop essential skills, and build lasting relationships that transcend national borders. The training aims to produce competent professionals who can support producers and address sustainable development challenges. The goal is to make the students operational in their respective fields and capable of accompanying producers, technical services, projects, and programs.
Mahamat Nour Doude Ary, Director-General of Agricultural Production and Training, stated that the Programme de Résilience du Système Alimentaire (PRSA) in Chad plans to train 129 students. A first batch of 84 students began their training in the 2025-2026 academic year, while a second batch of 45 students starts in the 2026-2027 academic year.
Sanoussi Atta, Head of the Training and Research Department, provided details on the engineers and Technicians Supérieurs. He stated that 52 engineers are funded by the Ministry of Agricultural Production and Industrialization of Chad under the PRSA program. The students come from five countries: Chad, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Niger.
The source of funding for the students includes the PRSA program, the P2RS program, Météo du Burkina Faso, and private sources. The diversity of funding sources and countries of origin reflects the centre's regional impact. The training programs are designed to address specific needs in the region.
Key points
- The AGRHYMET centre welcomes 136 new students for its academic intake.
- The training programs focus on food security, water management, and climate change.
- The centre's impact is visible in several sectors of the economy and society in its member states.
