Suitability of Groundwater for Irrigation in Maine-Saroa - Niger
Background
The northern zone of Niger, encompassing more than half of the country, lies within the Sahara Desert. The central zone, in the Sahel, is semi-arid. The country’s only river, the Niger River, flows in the south. On the southeast, the country borders one of Africa’s largest lakes, the shallow Lake Chad. Rainfall in the north is minimal. The rainy season in the south lasts from June to October, with rainfall averaging about 820 mm. In some parts of the country, evaporation exceeds precipitation. Rainfall in Maïné-Soroa, for example, approached 400 mm in 1975, but 3853 mm of water evaporated.
Approximately 90 percent of the people are subsidence farmers or livestock herders who lead nomadic lives. Rural water supply is essential for socio-economic development. A number of African countries, including Niger, have experienced severe recurrent droughts over the past two decades to the point that water resources have become insufficient for rural activities. Surface water is scarce and invariably polluted. Groundwater constitutes the main water resource but is limited. In addition, economic conditions in rural Niger do not attract meaningful investments for water development.
Objectives
In recognition of the reality that rural water resource management and development is a prerequisite for rural development, the Ministry of Rural Development and the National Union of Farmers, with financial support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), contracted Hydrosult to evaluate the use of groundwater for irrigation to provide water for farming in Maïné-Soroa and beside Lake Chad.
Outputs
A feasibility study evaluating existing groundwater irrigation resources and calculating the financial requirements to augment these resources was undertaken. An inventory of wells was carried out, and methods for collecting groundwater for irrigation were assessed. Hydrosult prepared administrative and financial guidelines for contract administration, drafted documents for tender, called for proposals and bids aimed at increasing groundwater supply for irrigation, and provided assistance in awarding the contracts.
The northern zone of Niger, encompassing more than half of the country, lies within the Sahara Desert. The central zone, in the Sahel, is semi-arid. The country’s only river, the Niger River, flows in the south. On the southeast, the country borders one of Africa’s largest lakes, the shallow Lake Chad. Rainfall in the north is minimal. The rainy season in the south lasts from June to October, with rainfall averaging about 820 mm. In some parts of the country, evaporation exceeds precipitation. Rainfall in Maïné-Soroa, for example, approached 400 mm in 1975, but 3853 mm of water evaporated.![Click here for full size](javascript:fullimage("fullimage.php?img=full/Usingapump.jpg"))
![Click here for full size](javascript:fullimage("fullimage.php?img=full/Groundwaterdevelopment.jpg"))
![Click here for full size](javascript:fullimage("fullimage.php?img=full/Effectsofdrought.jpg"))