Empowering Women Through Smart Food Training in Balleyara, Niger

From
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
Published on
26.02.25
Impact Area
Gender equality, Gender equality, youth & social inclusion, Social inclusion

In the rural community of Balleyara, Niger, thirty women are now equipped with transformative skills in food hygiene, agro-food processing, and marketing techniques, following a Smart Food Training held from 4-5 February 2025.

This initiative is part of a larger effort to strengthen resilience in the Tillabéri region, addressing the intertwined challenges of conflict, climate change, and food insecurity while supporting the plant-based protein sector.

Led by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and local NGO ADKOUL, the training focused on processing nutrient-rich crops such as millet, sorghum, groundnut, and cowpea. These often overlooked crops are nutritional powerhouses that can play a critical role in improving household food security and creating economic opportunities for women in rural areas.