The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) said on Tuesday that it would provide $13-million in loan and grant facilities to the Niger government to help mitigate the impact of the major food and pastoral crisis that hit the regions of Maradi, Tahoua and Tillabery in 2010.

Scant and irregular rainfall since last year had left an estimated 7,1-million people – or one-half of the Niger’s population – with a food shortage.

IFAD president Kanayo Nwanze and Republic of Niger ambassador Mireille Ausseil on Tuesday signed the loan and grant agreement for the emergency food security and rural development programme in Rome.

The programme was aimed at restoring the productive assets of the most food-insecure and vulnerable rural households. It would also strengthen domestic food production systems, improve the mobility of people and goods and ensure adequate access to water for rural communities and livestock.

The IFAD reported that more than 121 000 vulnerable households, or about 847 000 people in the rural areas, would benefit directly from the programme, with women and young people representing at least 30% each of the target group.

With this new programme, the IFAD would have financed ten programmes and projects in Niger for a total investment of $310-million, benefiting 725 000 households.