Niger Launches 60 Billion CFA Agro-Industrial Centre in Maradi

West Africa WeeklyNovember 20, 20251 Mins read38

Niger has announced a significant agricultural investment that authorities say will strengthen food security and transform rural production. The head of the ruling CNSP, General Abdourahamane Tiani, revealed plans for a new agro-industrial complex valued at 60 billion CFA francs in the Maradi region.

The project will be built within the Djirataoua hydro-agricultural perimeter, a 600-hectare irrigated zone known for intensive and diversified farming. The area already supports year-round cultivation of bananas, aubergines, moringa, maize, sorghum and millet, as well as the processing of groundnut-based products.

Officials say the centre is designed to boost local processing capacity, reduce the country’s reliance on imported food and stimulate economic activity in Maradi’s rural communities. By transforming crops at the source, the government aims to create new value chains, improve farmers’ incomes and modernise agricultural sectors that remain largely underdeveloped.

The initiative aligns with Niger’s broader ambition to reinforce food sovereignty and expand its agro-industrial base. Authorities believe the new centre will become one of the country’s most important hubs for agricultural innovation and production as efforts to modernise the sector continue.