Niger Aims to Irrigate 39,700 Hectares by 2027, ONAHA Receives World Bank Support

A delegation from the World Bank visited Niger's Office of National Hydro-Agricultural Development (ONAHA) on November 13, 2026, to review the office's capabilities and discuss solutions to support Niger's irrigation and food sovereignty ambitions. The visit included a review of ONAHA's material resources and a working session at the office's general direction. Discussions focused on ONAHA's operational capacities, potential alternative solutions to enhance its action, and development prospects.

ONAHA plays a crucial role in Niger's large-scale irrigation program, aiming to increase irrigated areas from approximately 18,500 hectares to 39,700 hectares by 2027. The office is responsible for developing and managing irrigated perimeters in Niger and is the primary operator of the Presidential Program for Large Irrigation, launched on March 20, 2024, for the period 2024-2027. As part of a contract-plan with the state, ONAHA must develop 8,000 new hectares and rehabilitate 3,700 existing hectares, totaling 11,700 hectares.

The ultimate goal of the program is to reduce Niger's imports of rice, maize, and wheat by half by 2027. The program targets a production of at least 481,500 tons of paddy rice per year. It is financed by the national budget and the Solidarity Fund for the Safeguard of the Homeland (FSSP), which is supported by contributions from Nigeriens. In a country where rainfed agriculture is highly exposed to climate risks, mastering water resources is central to the food sovereignty pursued by the authorities.

During the World Bank visit, ONAHA expressed its desire to become a reference actor in hydro-agricultural developments, capable of meeting this challenge. Two days earlier, the World Bank had participated in a roundtable discussion on the Kandadji dam, chaired by Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, alongside other donors. Once completed, the dam is expected to significantly expand irrigated lands along the river.

For ONAHA, the stakes are double: demonstrating its ability to carry out the developments entrusted to it and obtaining increased support from its partners. However, Niger is counting primarily on itself, as the Large Irrigation Program is financed by the state budget and the FSSP. The concrete follow-up to the visit and the nature of the "alternative solutions" discussed remain to be specified.

The World Bank's support is crucial to helping Niger achieve its irrigation and food sovereignty goals. The bank's participation in the roundtable discussion on the Kandadji dam and its visit to ONAHA demonstrate its commitment to supporting Niger's development efforts. The Nigerien government is counting on the support of its partners to achieve its ambitions, but it is primarily relying on its own resources to finance the Large Irrigation Program.

The success of the Large Irrigation Program will depend on the ability of ONAHA to implement the developments entrusted to it and to mobilize the necessary resources. The program's impact on Niger's food sovereignty and economy will be significant, and its success will be closely monitored by the government and its partners. The World Bank's support will be essential in helping Niger achieve its goals and reducing its dependence on food imports.

Key points

• Niger aims to increase irrigated areas to 39,700 hectares by 2027.
• ONAHA is the primary operator of the Presidential Program for Large Irrigation.
• The program targets a production of at least 481,500 tons of paddy rice per year.