Niger Irrigation and Market Access Project: Baseline Report – Part II: Dosso-Gaya Region
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Niger Irrigation and Market Access Project: Baseline Report – Part II: Dosso-Gaya Region

Published: Oct 19, 2023
Publisher: Millennium Challenge Corporation
Global Climate Change Food and Agriculture Federal Research and Evaluation Surveys and Data Collection
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Associated Project

Niger: Evaluating the Irrigation and Market Access Project

Time frame: 2020-2027

Prepared for:

Millennium Challenge Corporation

Authors

Christopher Ksoll

Anthony D'Agostino

Margo Berends

Sam Studnitzer

Poorva Upadhyaya

Key Findings
  • An estimated 40 percent of households in our sample live below the national poverty line and 30 percent of households state having experienced hunger in the past lean season.
  • At baseline few to no farmers cultivated cash crops such as tomatoes or onions; and only 10 percent of plots were cultivated in the dry season using irrigation.
  • We confirm findings in the literature that self-reported plot sizes and the area cultivated are subject to substantial biases.
  • Findings from the market, trader, and village leader surveys suggest that rehabilitating the RN7, RN35, and RRS could lead to improvements in the short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes envisioned in the logic model as the current poor road quality does appear to be a binding constraint.

This report presents the baseline evaluation for the Niger Irrigation and Market Access Project (IMAP), supported by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and implemented by the Government of Niger under the $442.6 million Niger Sustainable Water and Agriculture Compact. The evaluation covers the Dosso-Gaya region, focusing on activities designed to increase rural incomes through improved agricultural productivity and enhanced market access. Key project components include the development of small-scale irrigation (SSI) infrastructure, land tenure security improvements, farmer training, and market facilitation activities. Additionally, the Roads for Market Access Activity aims to rehabilitate critical roads to improve trade efficiency.

The evaluation employs a matched comparison group design to assess the project’s impact. The comparison group was identified through a two-step process: first, a listing survey in comparison areas to identify potential matches for treatment plots, followed by household surveys of both treatment and comparison areas. Remote sensing data played a critical role in the evaluation methodology by enabling accurate plot identification, measuring cultivated land areas, and informing the propensity score matching process. Household, plot, and trader-level surveys complemented these data sources, supporting the creation of a well-balanced comparison group. The report establishes reference values for key indicators related to agricultural productivity, land tenure security, and women’s empowerment. It highlights significant baseline constraints such as limited irrigation access, low adoption of modern agricultural practices, and insufficient market connectivity.

The evaluation identifies potential project impacts, including increased agricultural productivity, improved household incomes, and enhanced food security. Findings also suggest that better road infrastructure could reduce transportation costs, increase market access, and decrease post-harvest losses. However, persistent risks such as land tenure disputes, limited irrigation coverage, and gender-based disparities in empowerment remain critical challenges.

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