Fighting food insecurity with cereal banks
In Niger, the combined effects of chronic drought and poverty particularly affect vulnerable groups, such as women and children, who can have serious difficulties producing enough food to meet their nutritional needs.
To help, Plan, in partnership with the government and other development partners, is constructing cereal banks in 86 communities throughout Dosso and Tillaberi.
The project aims to develop solidarity and local capacities by empowering the whole community - particularly women - to manage the way they acquire cereals, set prices and distribute them.
Setting up
The recipient communities are selected according to their degree of vulnerability and the size of their harvests.
Awareness raising sessions are conducted to mobilise villagers and organise cereal bank management committee elections, which help the community to participate in the entire decision-making process.
Once the cereal bank is constructed and the initial stock is provided by Plan, it is the responsibility of the management committee to organise the storage and sales of the cereals. Most of the positions within the committee are occupied by women.
Fair system
Cereal is mainly sold for cash through a quota system to ensure that the poorer members of the community have equal access to the stock.
Particularly vulnerable people can also purchase cereals on credit - reimbursement is done in-kind during the next harvest.
Empowering women
Villager Aissatou from Gourey Bio said: "Before the banks were here, we were always very worried when there was poor rainfall. Now we have at least the guarantee that there is some millet available when we have some poor harvest. I am very happy with it because I will be able to feed my children."
Cereal banks help the whole community, particularly women, who no longer need to travel long distances to buy cereals. The project also helps to boost their confidence and develop stock management and leadership skills.
