Investigating Agricultural Management Practicies in Relation to Climate Change in Niger

Abstract

In Niger, climate-related shocks have structurally intensified persistent challenges of poverty, food insecurity, and limited livelihood opportunities among poor farming households. In this context, there is an urgent need to support appropriate agricultural management practices to ensure that autonomous adaptation strategies do not further exacerbate household vulnerability. The primary objective of this study is to contribute to the generation of robust evidence to inform the design and implementation of effective and context-appropriate climate change adaptation policies in Niger. Specifically, the study examines the adaptive capacity of farming households in the Tillabéri and Maradi regions and assesses the macroeconomic implications of agricultural labor diversification in the presence of climate-induced productivity shocks. The analysis combines index-based methodologies with uncertainty and sensitivity analyses and employs a single-country static computable general equilibrium (CGE) model (DEMETRA) calibrated using the 2019 Social Accounting Matrix. This integrated and rigorous analytical framework is tailored to the socio-economic realities of Nigerien households and supports the formulation of meaningful policy insights. The results reveal substantial disparities in household asset endowments, with many households lacking critical assets—particularly education and skills required to access information, technology, and non-agricultural income opportunities. Furthermore, the analysis of labor supply behavior indicates that agricultural labor in Niger is responsive to productivity-related economic incentives and is systematically reallocated toward agricultural and food processing activities in neighboring regions exhibiting higher agricultural productivity. Overall, the findings provide a solid foundation for the development of comprehensive, integrated, and locally grounded policy interventions aimed at enhancing the adaptive capacity and well-being of farming households while simultaneously fostering local economic development and facilitating the structural transformation that has thus far progressed slowly in Niger.