Over the past four decades of partnership with Niger, ICRISAT has delivered climate-resilient crops and farmer-ready innovations, reaching over 400,000 farmers directly and benefiting more than 1.5 million people across the country.

Building on this legacy, ICRISAT hosted a high-level delegation from the Government of Niger, accompanied by Prof. Falalou Hamidou, ICRISAT Niger's Country Representative, at its headquarters from 7–9 February 2026.

The delegation was led by His Excellency Elhadji Ousmane Mahaman, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, and included Ms Salamatou Hassane Yacouba, Director of Seed Quality Control and Certification; His Excellency Colonel Major Zada Seidou, Ambassador of Niger to India; and Dr Abdoulaye Bankoula, Representative of the Association of Agricultural Engineers of Niger.

During the visit, the delegation toured ICRISAT’s advanced research facilities and platforms.

The interactions highlighted how data, genetics, field-based innovation, capacity building, and value addition can further strengthen dryland farming systems in Niger.

[L-R] Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General - Research and Innovation, ICRISAT; Prof. Falalou Hamidou, Country Representative of Niger, ICRISAT; His Excellency Elhadji Ousmane Mahaman, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock; Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT; Ms Salamatou Hassane Yacouba, Director of Seed Quality Control and Certification, Niger; His Excellency Colonel Major Zada Seidou, Ambassador of Niger to India; and Dr Abdoulaye Bankoula, Representative of the Association of Agricultural Engineers, Niger

The meeting further identified pathways for scaling impact. Discussions focused on strengthening seed systems, improving fertilizer and soil fertility management, and promoting appropriate mechanization to boost productivity while enhancing resilience in Niger.

Highlighting the strength of the partnership, ? Director General of ICRISAT, Dr Himanshu Pathak, said,

“Niger has shown what is possible when science and partnership converge.

"As climate risks intensify, the priority is to scale what works to outpace these threats.

“Our focus in Niger is on expanding proven innovations, strengthening national capacity, and ensuring that science continues to support a strong and viable agricultural sector for inclusive growth across the Sahel and beyond,” said Dr Pathak.

Launch of ICRISAT's Niger Dossier.

A key milestone of the visit was the launch of ICRISAT’s Niger Dossier, formally unveiled by His Excellency Mahaman, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Niger.

The dossier documents four decades of partnership, marked by the release of biofortified crops, restored soils through conservation agriculture, targeted fertilizer management, and strengthened national capacity in biological pest control.

Underscoring Niger’s confidence in ICRISAT, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Niger His Excellency Mahaman said,

“Niger values partnerships grounded in science and long-term commitment, and ICRISAT has consistently demonstrated the technical capacity and institutional reliability needed to address the challenges of our agricultural sector.

“This partnership strengthens national systems and delivers tangible benefits for smallholder farmers, advancing our priorities on food sovereignty and climate resilience.

“As we look to the future, Niger is committed to deepening this collaboration with ICRISAT to scale proven solutions and support a resilient agricultural future for our country,” said His Excellency Mahaman.

His Excellency Elhadji Ousmane Mahaman hands the letter of support to the Director General of ICRISAT.

As part of the strengthened partnership, the Niger delegation reaffirmed its support for ICRISAT in Niger, with particular emphasis on the ICRISAT genebank, which holds one of the largest and most diverse germplasm collections in the Sahel, and confirmed a contribution toward strengthening its operations.

Echoing this commitment, His Excellency Colonel Major Zada Seidou, Ambassador of Niger to India, said,

“As this partnership moves into its next phase, the Embassy of Niger in India will actively facilitate the implementation of new agreed initiatives, ensuring that this collaboration continues to deliver practical and timely outcomes for Niger," said Major Seidou.

The visit builds on high-level ICRISAT engagements in Niger in 2025 and the renewed momentum of the Institute’s Niger office, reinforcing a shared commitment to advance climate-smart agriculture, strengthen national capacity across the Sahel, and accelerate progress toward food security.

These priorities align with ICRISAT’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030, which emphasizes science-led, resilient, and inclusive food systems in Africa’s drylands.