Development and Management of Groundwater Analysis and Information System in Niger

The Development and Management of Groundwater Analysis and Information System in Niger is a platform to improve and make available information on groundwater in Maradi and Zinder. This service consists of developing a geospatial model that combines sensor data with satellite imagery to provide information about groundwater resources which may include recharge and the volume of the groundwater. The service will enable the government and local communities to better monitor groundwater resources and make appropriate decisions related to irrigation and agriculture.

Rationale

A lack of sufficient information on groundwater in Niger limits the capacity of the government and its partners to plan the most appropriate actions to improve food security in the country. Rainfed agriculture in Niger, the primary revenue source, faces diverse constraints including droughts, erratic rainfall, and the loss of productive agricultural land. As a result, rainfed agriculture production will not be a sustainable revenue source in Niger. One recommendation to address this is to focus efforts on tapping into groundwater through irrigated production (on a large scale) or small scale/village level irrigation. The utility of irrigation as a means of sustainable production requires a better understanding of existing water resources and their responsible use.