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The aim of this project is to improve small scale farmers’ ability to gain a sound profit from transactions on the cereal market and thereby reduce vulnerability to malnutrition, debt and fragile livelihoods.

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Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Education/Training/Employment Education/​Training/​Employment
  • Poverty Alleviation/Relief Poverty Alleviation/​Relief
  • Other Other
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other

    Situation

    The significance of fluctuating cereal markets in contributing to food insecurity, acute hunger and chronic malnutrition in rural households in Niger has been heightened by recent increases in food prices. The poorest and most vulnerable households are heavily reliant on markets for sales and purchases of cereals and are at the mercy of high seasonal price fluctuations and speculation by large external traders. Households are obliged to sell their cereals when the prices are lowest and buy when prices are highest, leading to a double financial loss. Following market liberalisation in Niger, the government’s role has been reduced to one of price monitoring and selling of subsidised cereals to the most vulnerable, as part of crisis management, rather than long term livelihood protection. The project will be implemented through advocacy and lobbying, particularly at municipal government level, on the impact of cereal market dynamics on food insecurity. Workshops will be held to enable small scale farmers to implement “warrantage” systems, financed by microcredit, to improve stocking techniques and to diversify their crops. Improved access to market information will also be provided. Small scale farmers will be mobilised to lobby with national institutions, so that their needs both as consumers and producers are recognised, as well as the need for a longer-term livelihood protection. As a result of improved transactions on the cereal market, small scale farmers’ ability to cope with cereal price fluctuations will be improved and their vulnerability to malnutrition, debt and fragile livelihoods will be reduced. Brief financial breakdown: Start up cost £25,000. Year long advocacy costs £18,000. Total: £61,000.

    Solution

    100%
    Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Education/Training/Employment Education/​Training/​Employment
  • Poverty Alleviation/Relief Poverty Alleviation/​Relief
  • Other Other
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other