Project Team: Niger Agriculture Team
Team Location: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia
This map shows the distribution of average rainfall accumulation in Niger, with limited rain in the northern desert regions and relatively more in the south. Image Credit: Niger Agriculture Team.
Authors:
Merna Saad, Project Lead (Christopher Newport University)
Georgina Crepps (North Carolina State University)
Tim Courtney (College of William & Mary)
Jamerson Jones (U.S. Air Force)
Allison Kunz (Christopher Newport University)
Mentors/Advisors:
Dr. Kenton Ross (NASA DEVELOP, National Science Advisor)
Abstract:
In the Maradi, Tahoua, and Zinder regions of south-central Niger, water is scarce and food production is limited. In response to these challenges, the Nigerien government, in collaboration with the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), a financial intermediary fund administered by the World Bank Institute, has initiated the Water Mobilization Project to Enhance Food Security in Maradi, Tahoua and Zinder Regions (PMERZA-MTZ). This effort seeks to augment irrigation infrastructure and efficiency in these regions to improve agricultural productivity. Various NASA Earth observing data were utilized in order to determine areas that have the need and potential to support increased irrigation and agriculture in the Maradi, Tahoua, and Zinder regions. Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) data were used to conduct a land cover classification identifying agricultural areas. Tropical Rainfall Monitoring Mission (TRMM) data were used to determine rainfall patterns. Finally, Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data were used to analyze groundwater trends, determining seasonal and yearly patterns of change in groundwater storage. This allowed for the identification of areas that may benefit from increased irrigation. In addition, these data were utilized to create maps to aid in the visualization of areas suitable for millet, sorghum, and cowpea cultivation. ÛÏSuitabilityÛ was determined based on rainfall variability and sufficiency for each crop. These maps were overlaid onto the land cover classification to identify how current land use intersects with the suitability maps produced. These end-products were created to help the end user continue to develop water management strategies that maximize irrigation and crop production.