On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Niamey, the Nigerien government officially launched the second phase of the subsidized local rice sales initiative known as “Special Tabaski”. This initiative, led by the National Office for Hydro-Agricultural Development (ONAHA) with support from the Solidarity Fund for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (FSSP), aims to make 15,500 bags of local rice available to the public at reduced prices in order to support household purchasing power as the Tabaski holiday approaches.
The launch ceremony was held at the Niamey Martial Arts Academy and was presided over by the Minister of Environment, Water Resources, and Sanitation, Colonel Maizama ABDOULAYE. Scheduled for May 20–28, 2026, this second phase of the operation involves the sale of 387.5 tons of local rice, or 15,500 25-kilogram bags. Several varieties of rice are available to consumers to meet the diverse needs of households. “Bondourey” rice bags are sold for 10,500 CFA francs, “Mai-gardi” for 9,500 CFA francs, “Brabous-ko” for 8,500 CFA francs, and “Dambou” rice for 8,000 CFA francs per 25-kilogram bag.
According to Colonel Maizama ABDOULAYE, this initiative is part of the ongoing social initiatives undertaken during the month of Ramadan to benefit the populations of the Niamey, Dosso, Zinder, Agadez, and Maradi regions. He noted that this support policy is also based on the Large-Scale Irrigation Program (PGI), launched on March 20, 2024, with the goal of sustainably boosting domestic production and reducing Niger’s food dependency.
The Acting Minister emphasized that this program has enabled the construction and rehabilitation of numerous water management and agricultural infrastructure projects across the country’s eight regions. These projects have notably facilitated the mobilization of millions of cubic meters of water, the development of new agricultural land, and the expansion of integrated activities such as fish farming and vegetable producing. Ultimately, nearly 3.7 million Nigerien households are expected to benefit from these initiatives through improved access to food and more affordable prices.
Colonel Maizama ABDOULAYE also called on the various stakeholders involved to ensure compliance with the terms of sale and distribution so that the targeted households can effectively benefit from this initiative. He emphasized the need to make food sovereignty a national priority. “Feeding Niger with Niger’s own products is not only an economic objective, but also an act of sovereignty and patriotism,” he stated.
According to Réki DJERMAKOYE, President of the Solidarity Fund for the Preservation of the Homeland (FSSP), the first phase of the operation resulted in the provision of 1,476 tons of rice, representing more than 59,000 25-kg bags distributed across several regions of the country.
The General Director of the National Office for Hydro-Agricultural Development (ONAHA), Lieutenant Colonel Bilaly Elhadj GAMBOBO, stated that approximately 10,100 bags of paddy rice from the national production surplus were purchased and then processed as part of this second phase.
Source : OFFICE NATIONAL D’EDITION ET DE PRESSE
