Assessment of Market Gardening Potential and Investment Profitability at WFP Sites in the Maradi Region (Niger): Case of Rafa, Dagouagé, and Daratou

Abstract

In the Sahel, particularly in Niger, market gardening is a key source of income and food production for local populations. As food security remains a national priority, the World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the NGO Karkara, supports market gardeners on the sites of Rafa, Dagouagé, and Daratou. The objective of this study is to assess the profitability of the investments carried out. A survey was conducted among 128 producers. The methods applied included arithmetic calculations, econometric analyses, and Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). The main crops grown are potato, tomato, onion, lettuce, cabbage, pepper, eggplant, moringa, sorrel, maize, and cassava. Land access modalities differ across sites: outright purchase at Dagouagé and Daratou, and land lending at Rafa. The annual economic profitability is estimated at 0.297 in Rafa, 2.924 in Daratou, with a very low profitability observed in Dagouagé. Results indicate that farmers’ experience (p = 0.001) as well as certain crops such as potato (p = 0.001) and eggplant (p = 0.007) significantly influence farm income. In addition, the major constraints identified include water scarcity (up to 53.3% of farmers in Dagouagé), pest pressure (32.5% in Daratou), and lack of agricultural equipment (13.3% in Dagouagé). These findings highlight the need for site-specific approaches that combine technical solutions with supportive measures.