AN INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATORY DIAGNOSIS OF CONSTRAINTS LIMITING SMALLHOLDER CROP PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGER - Abdou Razakou Ibrahim Bio Yerima; Hame Abdou Kadi Kadi; Mariama Idi Garba; Adamou Basso; Boube Chayaya Abdoulkadri; Gry Synnevåg; Jens Bernt Aune (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2026)
Small-scale farmers face enormous constraints and challenges that affect their capability to produce more in the Sahelian context of Niger. This situation tends to be worsened by the lack of adaptive and resilient technologies that help farmers to overcome these challenges and constraints. This study therefore highlighted factors limiting crop productivity at small-scale farmers’ fields through an inclusive participatory diagnosis approach. Constraints were identified through the focus group method using structured questionnaires within seventy-seven (77) villages with a sample size of 2,165 farmers. The respondents were constituted of 1,083 males and 1,082 of females. The results of the diagnosis revealed that the main crops cultivated across the five regions were pearl millet, sorghum, cowpea and groundnut, with secondary crops including rice, maize, sesame, fonio millet, bambara groundnut, roselle, okra, bean and tiger nut. The findings also showed that the most important constraints limiting crop productivity at the farmer field level across the regions were insect pests and diseases, the parasitic weed Striga, drought and the lack of mechanization. This variation reflects agroecological and socio-economic heterogeneity in which these farmers thrive. However, for most the constraints identified, farmers would like to use indigenous knowledge, some agroecological approaches, and to the extent possible research opportunities to overcome these challenges. Furthermore, the results revealed a highly significant positive relationship between limited rainfall and soil degradation constraints in these regions. Addressing constraints limiting crop productivity through an inclusive participatory approach is key for co-creation and a successful transition of smallholder farming systems towards greater resilience.
Keywords: journal article; constraints; inclusive diagnosis; indigenous knowledge; research opportunities