In the village of Souley-Garou, like other towns and villages in Niger, young people are tempted by exodus. Many of them travel to the neighboring countries in search of wealth and others try to cross the Mediterranean to reach the 'El Dorado', hence the ardent desire Mr. DIADO Abdoulaye, a retired teacher and village chief, to offer young people an enriching alternative through the cultivation of cassava.
Mr. DIADO who is also the President of the Cassava Producers' Cooperative (COPROMA) says:
In Niger, the annual cassava production is estimated to be 371,135 tonnes (MAG, 2018). Tahoua, Dosso and Zinder are the main production areas. Whether there is strong heat or incidents of drought during the rainy season, cassava easily adapts to the Sahelian climate. This is why it is considered as one of the crops on which Niger could rely on to not only sustainably guarantee its food security but to also enrich lives, and aid settling on their land because their livestock practice is increasingly becoming sedentary. Cassava production can further be the antidote to the mass movement of young people to other countries in search of better economic opportunities.
Cassava is a versatile crop used for food and feeds. Rich in vitamins B and C, it is also used for medicinal purposes. In traditional Nigerien medicine, an infusion of cassava leaves can be used to reduce fever. Cassava is also processed into gari, a food very popular and appreciated by Nigeriens. But for a long time the imported gari dominated the Niger market thanks to the lack of organization of the cassava sector which has strongly hindered its development. This is why the COPROMA and Dadin-Kowa union, in partnership with 2SCALE, aims to replace imported gari on BoP markets by locally producing and processing gari through increased production; as well as the establishment of an efficient distribution system.
The advantages of cassava production lie primarily in its high yield and a much greater added value compared to other food products grown in Niger such as millet, sorghum and maize. According to the President of COPROMA, the Union is striving to sustain cassava cultivation and processing in order to increase farmers' income.
The COPROMA and Dadin-Kowa union intends to place young people and women at the heart of the cassava value chain in Niger. To do this, it is necessary to get rid of certain socio-cultural barriers, such as the cultural norms which dictates that young people currently work mainly in the fields of their fathers. Very few women and young people have their own fields. 90% of women working in the cassava sector are involved in processing. Thus, in its gender inclusion policy, the union aims to create more opportunities for women in the processing so that they can derive great benefit and buy their own lands to produce as much as men. Mr DIADO adds:
The union also plans, as of this year, to allocate unoccupied production lands to women and youth. We want a synergy between men and women throughout the value chain, in production, processing as well as in the marketing and supply of agricultural inputs
Going from 300 to 2000 members involved in the entire value chain is another goal that the union intends to achieve in the near future. Driven by the desire to breathe new life into the production and processing of cassava in Niger, the village chief strongly appeals to the Nigerien youth.