Empowering Women Through Smart Food Training in Balleyara, Niger
In the rural community of Balleyara, Niger, thirty women are now equipped with transformative skills in food hygiene, agro-food processing, and marketing techniques, following a Smart Food Training held from 4-5 February 2025.
This initiative is part of a larger effort to strengthen resilience in the Tillabéri region, addressing the intertwined challenges of conflict, climate change, and food insecurity while supporting the plant-based protein sector.
Led by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and local NGO ADKOUL, the training focused on processing nutrient-rich crops such as millet, sorghum, groundnut, and cowpea. These often overlooked crops are nutritional powerhouses that can play a critical role in improving household food security and creating economic opportunities for women in rural areas.
Hands-On Learning and Cross-Cultural Exchange
Over the course of two days, participants engaged in hands-on sessions, learning to prepare key Smart Food recipes such as complementary millet-based infant flour and enriched dishes combining millet, sorghum, groundnut, and cowpea with vegetables. Practical lessons on food hygiene and packaging provided critical insights into safe food handling and effective product presentation for local markets.
A unique highlight of the training was the exchange of Smart Food recipes between Niger and Mali. This cross-cultural sharing not only enriched the learning experience but also sparked enthusiasm and camaraderie among participants.
“This workshop has opened our eyes to the potential of our local crops," shared Ms Saratou Mohamed, a participant from Balleyara. “The exchange of recipes from Mali was inspiring. It showed us how we can adapt and innovate with our own local crops to create opportunities for ourselves and our families.”
Building Economic Resilience Through Knowledge-Sharing
Dr Bouba Traore, Focal Point for the ICRISAT Smart Food Project, highlighted the broader impact of the training:
“This initiative is about more than just food—it is about knowledge sharing and empowering women with practical skills that can transform their lives and communities," emphasized Dr Traore. "At the end of this training, the women would have learned to process and market nutritious foods, creating pathways for economic independence and improved nutrition."
The success of the Balleyara training has set the stage for expanding similar programs to other regions of Niger. ICRISAT and its partners are committed to scaling up these efforts, ensuring that more women can benefit from the transformative potential of Smart Food.
A Legacy of Collaboration and Innovation
During the delegation's visit to Niger, Ms Agathe Diama, ICRISAT's Smart Food Coordinator, visited the IMATH School (Institut International des Métiers de l'Aviation, du Tourisme et de l'Hôtellerie), a longstanding partner of the Smart Food program in the country.
Between 2018 and 2019, IMATH students participated in training sessions conducted by the Smart Food team as part of the International Millet Festival, an initiative aimed at advancing nutrition and food security in the region.
"Trained human capital, with access to new knowledge, is a catalyst for transforming agrifood systems in the Sahel," shared Dr ML Jat, Deputy Director General-Research (Acting) and Global Research Program Director for Resilient Farm and Food Systems at ICRISAT.
"ICRISAT is committed to supporting smallholder farmers and all food system actors in driving sustainable and inclusive agricultural transformation—creating income opportunities, safeguarding natural resources, and improving access to affordable, nutritious food."
The project was funded by L’Agence Francaise de Développement to support the implementation of the initiative: Strengthening the resilience of the populations of the Tillabéri region through a multidimensional approach, sensitive to conflicts and climate change, and focused on supporting the plant protein sector.
This work aligns with SDGs 1,2,5,13 and 17.
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