PARM’s main mandate is to facilitate the implementation of robust agricultural risk management (ARM) tools in its eight focused countries. Earlier this year, feasibility studies for investment on the two proposed ARM tools – one on information systems for agricultural risk management, and the other on warehouse receipt systems (warrantage) for improving management of agricultural risks – were conducted for Niger by the SBC4D and CIRAD/IRAM research centers respectively. This workshop was organized to validate the findings from these two studies, increase stakeholders’ capacity on risk management potentials of the two tools, and identify the institutional and technical constraints for implementing the tools.
The 2-day workshop saw the participation of about 57 participants from across the government agencies, the private sector, research institutions and many more. It commenced with a speech from the General Secretary of the HC3N initiative, followed by presentations and training on the two ARM tools, and questions and answers from the participants.
The presentations on the feasibility study for investment in access to information systems in Niger focused on three specific: (i) Market price information; (ii) Climate information and; (ii) Information on agricultural production.
Warrantage and future contracts are indeed the two main sets of market risk management tools in Niger, which can also play a role in the national food security policy. The presentations from the workshop suggest that warrantage activities have the potential to provide farmers with: (i) Futures contracts at harvest; (ii) Futures contracts before production, pre-financed by the National Device for Prevention and Management and Food Crises (DNPGCA); (iii) Futures contracts with premiums paid at harvest.
The presentations and discussions also highlighted the technical considerations of linking these two ARM tools to the national food security strategy and response, and how to ensure an enabling environment for implementation.
Read the workshop report for more information on the key outcomes and points presented and discussed at the workshop.
The feasibility study reports will be available online shortly.
Please refer to the Niger country page for any further information on PARM’s joint process in the country.
