Peri-urban Agriculture: The Case of Market Gardening in Niamey, Niger

Abstract

A study was carried out in Niamey (capital city of Niger) to explore the market gardening periurban system. This activity is an option to minimize the risk of urban food insecurity in the Republic of Niger. In Niamey, you have two traditional areas to practise the market gardening production: Gamkalle and Yantala. The investigations study the area of Gamkalle. This study revealed more than 600 market gardening producers in Gamkalle. 50 producers of Gamkalle have been interviewed. These producers predominantly belong to the ethnic group “Zarma” and market gardening is their main economic activity. The principal period of production is during the dry season, the producers cultivate lettuce, cabbage, tomato, sweet pepper, beetroot, celery, carrot, parsley. Despite the higher costs notably in particular for input, the incomes generated by this activity are very high ($ 2805.23/year/acre). In conclusion, market gardening presents an opportunity for urban dwellers to increase and diversify their incomes and obtain food security. Nevertheless, there are many constraints to develop this production: land tenure security, pollution by industrial production and access to quality seeds, pesticides and fertilizers.

Key words: Agriculture, Market gardening, food, land