Kerry, the world’s leading taste and nutrition company, and Concern Worldwide, the Irish humanitarian organisation, have revealed through their partnership in Niger nearly 500 farmers have been trained over the last year.
This has resulted in significant improvements to the region including clean water access, increased food production and improved health and nutrition practices.
The Realigning Agriculture to Nutrition (RAIN) programme focuses on improving food and nutrition security while enhancing the livelihoods of the most vulnerable households in Tahoua, a region in the south of Niger.
As part of the programme farmers are trained in climate smart agriculture techniques, which includes promoting water conservation and improving soil protection and as a result 98.6% of RAIN households have now adopted at least one new conservation agriculture technique. There has also been a marked improvement in crop yields, with the average yield of millet in 2020 reaching 796kg per hectare compared to 568kg in 2019. For the first time, farmers were in a position to sell some of their millet harvest to a local flour mill, generating a source of revenue and creating sustainable livelihoods.
Catherine Keogh, Chief Corporate Affairs and Brand Officer of Kerry Group, says access to healthy food and good nutrition remains difficult for too many people, with the pandemic and climate change making it even more challenging.
She adds they are proud to see the positive impact of this programme, enabling farmers and communities to grow more nutritionally diverse food and build more sustainable livelihoods.”
