Declining soil fertility is a major threat to agricultural productivity and livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Niger, where most farmers have few resources and depend on degraded lands. Large-scale adoption of soil fertility management technologies (SFMT) by small-scale farmers is among the proposed solutions, but this remains low because of various constraints. A better understanding of the socio-economic factors that influence farming practices is needed to adapt SFMT to farmers'use. A survey using semi-structured interviews with 101 household heads was conducted in 2013 in Karabedji, Niger. The influence of household socio-economic factors on soil fertility management practices (SFMP) was assessed through farmers that were involved in demonstration activities as part of a long-term research project (13 years) on the estoration of soil fertility on farmers’ fields. The results showed that the farmer's household size was between 9 and 14 people and that the majority of farmers did not attain formal education.
Au Niger, le GAFSP soutient le Projet de Mobilisation des Eaux pour le Renforcement de la Sécurité Alimentaire dans les Régions de Maradi, Tahoua et Zinder (PMERSA-MTZ). Ce projet a pour objectif le renforcement de la sécurité alimentaire par l’augmentation, de façon durable, de la production et de la productivité agricole à travers la mobilisation des eaux de surface et souterraine. Il cible 213 000 producteurs partenaires directs et 460 000 producteurs partenaires indirects des régions de Maradi, Tahoua et Zinder, où vivent près de 60% de la population du Niger. Les trois régions sélectionnées présentent des taux particulièrement élevés de malnutrition, de pauvreté et d’insécurité alimentaire par rapport à l’ensemble du Niger.