Abstract

This brief report, drawing from a multi-year effort by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), identifies a substantial recovery of rainfall in Niger, accompanied by increases in air temperatures. These analyses are based on quality-controlled station observations.

Conclusions:
• Summer rains have increased during the past 20 years and have almost returned to 1960–89 levels.
• Temperatures have increased by 0.6° Celsius since 1975, amplifying the effect of droughts.
• Crop yields are very low and stagnant, and the population is growing very rapidly.
• Niger has offset very rapid population growth with a large expansion of cultivated land.
• If the expansion of farmland slows down, stagnant yields and population growth could lead to increased food insecurity.

First posted June 27, 2012