Market Analysis and Evaluation of the Nutritional Quality of Fodder Grown in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Niamey, Niger

Abstract

The development of domestic ruminant livestock farming is hampered by the lack of forage, which is largely dependent on natural pastures and crop residues. In the outskirts of major cities, access to grazing land is becoming increasingly restricted. To meet the growing demand for fodder, feed markets are emerging in urban centers. The main aim of this one-year, three-season study is to analyze the market and nutritional quality of fodder grown in Niamey. A total of 150 forage sellers were contacted, 75 of whom were listed for the survey. A bromatological analysis of 12 forage samples was carried out, and an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed using SPSS version 26 software. The results showed that marketed fodder comes from fields, irrigated perimeters, fallow land, pastoral enclaves, farms and riverbanks. The value chain mobilizes a variety of actors, including producers, sellers and breeders. Chemical analysis of cultivated forages has shown that brachiaria (Brachiaria mutica) and local bourgou (Echinochloa stagnina (L.) Retz. Beauv.) have crude protein levels of 15.76 and 13.89% respectively, well above the critical crude protein utilization threshold of 7%. These forages stand out for their good nutritional balance. What's more, the marketing of forages is a job-creating, income-generating activity.