sei-triplegreenniger-revuesurlestechniquesdecaptagedeleaudespluiesauniger-da6819b69e991649.pdf

This October 2010 report, authored by Dr. Adamou Mahaman Moustapha for the ECOSAN Project, evaluates rainwater harvesting technologies in Niger. It details in situ techniques for land restoration and soil fertility, such as Zaï and demi-lunes, and ex situ systems for domestic use. The document analyzes the roles of various actors, the technical mastery of farmers, and the results of several development projects in the Tahoua and Tillabery regions.

• Rainwater harvesting techniques in Niger, known as soil and water conservation (CES) and land defense and restoration (DRS), began around 1960 in the Tahoua department but were generalized in the late 1970s following severe droughts in 1973, 1974, and 1975.
• In situ technologies are divided into individual techniques, which a single farmer can implement, and collective techniques, which require multiple people or external expertise. Individual techniques include demi-lunes, zaï, and manual trenches, while collective ones include mechanical trenches, banquettes, spreading sills (seuils d'épandage), and mini-dams.
• The Zaï (or Tassa) technique involves creating deep holes to store runoff and organic manure, which can double productivity compared to untreated fields. In the 1998/1999 campaign, millet yields reached 1,200 kg/ha in Sansani Tabla and 800 kg/ha of sorghum in Tadeni Béri (both in Filingué). Adoption rates in the Tahoua region are high, reaching 97% in Batodi, 91% in Kolloma, and 77% in Adouna.
• Demi-lunes are semi-circular holes used for agricultural, forestry, or pastoral purposes. In Sabara (Filingué) during 1998/1999, demi-lunes combined with stone bunds and manure achieved a millet yield of 1,670 kg/ha, which was 1,270 kg/ha higher than the control group (400 kg/ha).
• Mini-dams are large-scale works costing approximately 70 million FCFA, making them unaffordable for rural populations and dependent on government or NGO funding. Between 2002 and 2007, the Nigerien state built over 20 mini-dams. However, many are underutilized due to a lack of farmer training and equipment.
• Several projects have demonstrated significant land recovery: the PDRT in Tahoua rehabilitated 125,000 hectares, the PIK in the Keita department rehabilitated 35,000 hectares, and the LUCOP-Tillabéri project recovered approximately 77,000 hectares.
• Farmers' mastery of technical standards is generally low, though higher for simpler techniques: 69% for Zaï and 65% for demi-lunes, compared to only 30% for manual and Vallerani Nardi trenches. The primary constraints to implementation are lack of tools/equipment (37%), lack of transport (19%), and lack of stimulation such as cash or food for work (14%).
• Ex situ rainwater harvesting (domestic storage) is not widespread in Niger, though women collect rainwater for household needs like laundry. In contrast, the report notes that such systems are common in neighboring Burkina Faso, specifically in the plateau region, where storage tanks range from 2 to 4 m³.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). sei-triplegreenniger-revuesurlestechniquesdecaptagedeleaudespluiesauniger-da6819b69e991649.pdf. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/TripleGreenNiger/SEI-TripleGreenNiger-RevueSurLesTechniquesDeCaptageDeLEauDesPluiesAuNiger.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. sei-triplegreenniger-revuesurlestechniquesdecaptagedeleaudespluiesauniger-da6819b69e991649.pdf. n.d. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/TripleGreenNiger/SEI-TripleGreenNiger-RevueSurLesTechniquesDeCaptageDeLEauDesPluiesAuNiger.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=sei-triplegreenniger-revuesurlestechniquesdecaptagedeleaudespluiesauniger-da6819b69e991649.pdf |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/TripleGreenNiger/SEI-TripleGreenNiger-RevueSurLesTechniquesDeCaptageDeLEauDesPluiesAuNiger.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendseitriplegreennigerrevuesurlestechniquesdecaptagedeleaudespluiesaunigerda6819b69e991649pdf, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{sei-triplegreenniger-revuesurlestechniquesdecaptagedeleaudespluiesauniger-da6819b69e991649.pdf}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/TripleGreenNiger/SEI-TripleGreenNiger-RevueSurLesTechniquesDeCaptageDeLEauDesPluiesAuNiger.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }