The Committee on Agricultural Research in Niger, led by Awali Rabo, convened on September 29, 2026, in Niamey to review agricultural research activities. The goal was to align research with national priorities and facilitate the dissemination of usable results to producers. The meeting aimed to bridge the gap between research and the needs of producers and food sovereignty objectives. Experts examined a synthesis of research activities from the Permanent Secretariat and agricultural research institutions.
The Committee, a key decision-making body on agricultural research, is responsible for defining national choices in this field. It proposes strategic orientations and financing mechanisms for agricultural research to the government. The Committee relies on a scientific committee and a technical committee to examine works and documents that inform its decisions. The synthesis presented will help inform orientations in favor of food sovereignty, a major axis of Niger's Refondation program.
The Permanent Secretary of the Committee, Dr. Boukary Habsatou Aminou, welcomed participants and invited them to examine the results in the implementation reports. These documents form the basis for experts to improve the quality of the synthesis. The Committee's president, Awali Rabo, emphasized the constraints of climate change and land degradation on agriculture. He presented agricultural research as a strategic necessity and called for transitioning from research to action.
Awali Rabo stressed the need to produce concrete results that can be easily transferred to producers and accelerate their dissemination. The usefulness of scientific research is measured by its ability to respond to field challenges and provide adapted solutions. He also highlighted the importance of training researchers and technicians to prepare a new generation capable of pursuing scientific work and accompanying its application.
The Committee aims to associate local knowledge with researchers' work to encourage more grounded research in agricultural realities. By combining practical knowledge with scientific approaches, the Committee seeks to contribute to more productive agriculture, better-equipped producers, and healthy and sufficient food for families. The objective is to improve the submitted synthesis and prioritize disseminating knowledge and its use by producers.
The Committee's discussions will enable the improvement of the synthesis and, beyond the examination of reports, the dissemination of knowledge and its utilization by producers. This will allow research to contribute concretely to food sovereignty objectives. The Committee's work is crucial in addressing Niger's agricultural challenges and achieving food sovereignty.
The agricultural research committee's efforts are geared towards achieving Niger's food sovereignty goals. By aligning research with national priorities and engaging producers in the research process, the committee aims to enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to the country's food security. The committee's work will continue to play a vital role in shaping Niger's agricultural research landscape.
Key points
- * The Committee on Agricultural Research in Niger aims to align research with national priorities and facilitate the dissemination of usable results to producers. * The Committee seeks to associate local knowledge with researchers' work to encourage more grounded research in agricultural realities. * The Committee's work is crucial in addressing Niger's agricultural challenges and achieving food sovereignty.
