Agadez Region Vulnerability and Threats: What adaptation resilience strategies are available for rural communities

Located in the northern desert region of Niger, the Agadez region faces challenges stemming from its arid climate. To address this situation, local communities practice irrigated agriculture. The intensification of this practice hinders socioeconomic development, compounded by population growth that continues to place pressure on natural resources (water, land, and vegetation). Thus, the department of Tchirozérine, which serves as a transitional zone between various koris of the Aïr Mountains, is the area most heavily impacted by irrigated farming. The expansion of cash crops is leading to the degradation of these resources, with the result that erosion is accelerating. This department faces several threats-namely climatic, anthropogenic, and environmental-that further endanger the population, which is already suffering from extreme poverty. To address these threats, rural communities have developed adaptation strategies. Thus, by adopting more efficient modern techniques, traditional local practices have evolved to enhance their resilience.