Nigerien Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Visit ICRISAT Exhibition at SAHEL 2025
Prime Minister of the Republic of Niger, HE Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, and Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Colonel Elhadji Ousmane Mahaman, reaffirmed the government's commitment to advancing the agricultural sector during a visit to ICRISAT's Exhibition at the Salon of Agriculture, Livestock, Hydraulic, and Environment (SAHEL), held in Niger from 20–25 February 2025.
During the visit, the Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture explored ICRISAT’s cutting-edge agricultural solutions, including high-yielding, climate-resilient crop varieties, sustainable soil management techniques, and innovative crop protection strategies.
These technologies, developed by ICRISAT Niger's programs and partners, are designed to empower smallholder farmers across the Sahel, enabling them to boost productivity and adapt to the challenges of climate change.
The high-level delegation engaged in insightful discussions with Professor Falalou Hamidou, ICRISAT’s Country Representative in Niger, who highlighted the institute’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable agricultural practices, enhance food security, and improve rural livelihoods.
Prime Minister Zeine and Minister Mahaman lauded ICRISAT’s contributions to Niger’s agricultural sector, emphasizing the critical role of science and innovation in driving agricultural transformation.
“Varieties that can mature as early as 60 days are the kind of technologies that our farmers, especially our women farmers, are longing for,” said Minister Mahaman. He urged ICRISAT and its partners to continue developing early-maturing, drought-tolerant crops tailored to the Sahel’s unique climatic conditions.
Dr ML Jat, Deputy Director General-Research (Acting) and Global Research Program Director for Resilient Farm and Food Systems reinforced the importance of collaboration, stating, "At ICRISAT, we remain committed to delivering science-driven solutions that enhance food security, build climate resilience, and transform agriculture across the region. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with the Government of Niger and our partners across the Sahel region and beyond to create lasting impact and improve livelihoods."
The SAHEL exhibition serves as an important platform for fostering dialogue, partnerships, and knowledge exchange among researchers, policymakers, private sector stakeholders, and farmers. ICRISAT’s participation underscores its leadership in developing sustainable agricultural solutions for dryland regions, aligning with Niger’s vision for a resilient and food-secure future.
This work aligns with SDGs 1, 2, 13, and 17.
Agathe Diama