In the dry land of Niger, where climate uncertainty increasingly jeopardizes agricultural livelihoods, a new variety of millet is offering an alternative path. Bred by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in collaboration with the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Niger (INRAN), Chakti millet is emerging as a vital tool in the country’s strategy to improve both food security and nutritional outcomes.
In a recent interview with Mongabay, Senior Research Technician at ICRISAT, Adamou Hamadou, highlighted Chakti’s high iron and zinc content, crucial for improving nutrition among vulnerable groups.
Early Maturity Meets Erratic Rainfall
With traditional millet varieties taking up to 120 days to reach maturity, farmers in Niger often find themselves at the mercy of shortening and unpredictable rainy seasons. Chakti millet, however, matures in just 60 days. This early maturity allows it to reach harvest even under erratic weather conditions, and in favorable environments, enables some farmers to grow two crops in a single season.
“This variety has a major advantage: its precocity,” explained Adamou Hamadou, Senior Research Technician at ICRISAT.
“Regardless of when it is sown, it has a high chance of reaching maturity before the rains stop. Even with late sowing, it ensures minimal production, thus contributing to food security.”
For smallholder farmers uncertain about sowing windows and faced with failing crops due to insufficient rainfall, Chakti offers a dependable option. It enables continuity in food production even when other varieties fall short, creating a layer of resilience for rural households.
Nutritional Value Tailored for Vulnerable Groups
Beyond its agronomic advantages, Chakti millet carries high nutritional value. Classified as a biofortified crop, it contains 60 mg/kg of iron and 45 mg/kg of zinc—figures that outpace traditional varieties such as HKP, the dominant millet in Niger, which has 45 mg/kg of iron and 35 mg/kg of zinc.
“The nutritional qualities of Chakti millet make it a particularly beneficial food for vulnerable groups such as children under five, adolescents, and pregnant women. Several examples from different regions of Niger show that the consumption of Chakti millet by women and children in rural households has improved their health.”
In a region where micronutrient deficiencies are widespread, Chakti provides a dietary intervention rooted in staple food habits.
Adoption Hurdles and Farmer Engagement
Despite its technical promise, Chakti millet has not been without challenges. Its shorter ears, measuring between 35 and 40 cm, deviate from the traditional forms favored by Nigerien farmers for storage and bundling. The grain’s darker color also differs from the lighter shades local communities are used to. Furthermore, its early maturation, while agronomically beneficial, makes it more vulnerable to early-season pests such as birds and insects, which see it as a readily available food source.
“In fact, several factors still hinder its widespread adoption,” noted Hamadou. “But our approach is based on demonstrations in farmers’ fields and raising awareness rather than imposition.”
Through initiatives like seed fairs and awareness programs, including FESTIMIL, the International Millet Festival organized in Niger, ICRISAT and INRAN are facilitating hands-on exposure. Distribution of small seed packets allows farmers to test the variety directly in their own fields, often leading to gradual acceptance once nutritional and productivity benefits become apparent.
Certified Seeds Scaling Across Niger
The scale-up of Chakti millet since its approval in 2018 has been systematic and measured. Seed production follows a tightly managed generation system, progressing from G0, developed by researchers, to R2, which reaches the hands of farmers.
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In 2024, this structured seed production effort yielded 10 tonnes of G4 seeds (produced by certified cooperatives), 191 tonnes of R1, and 515 tonnes of R2 seeds. In total, 716 tonnes of Chakti millet seeds have been made available for commercial use this year. These figures are underpinned by designated cultivation areas: 18 hectares for G4, 208 hectares for R1, and 560 hectares for R2 seed production.
“This is exceptional progress for a variety approved only in 2018,” said Hamadou. “Today, Chakti millet has become the second most widely distributed millet variety after HKP. This rapid growth demonstrates real acceptance by producers.”
A Broader Response to a Growing Crisis
As climate change accelerates, agricultural innovation is becoming less a matter of enhancement and more a requirement for survival. According to Hamadou, the story of Chakti millet underscores both the risks Nigerien farmers face and the necessity for adaptive responses.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it’s a reality, and our farmers are already facing it,” he said. “Solutions like Chakti millet represent part of the answer to these challenges, but their success will depend on farmers’ ability to adapt to new climate-smart technologies.”
He emphasized that national food and nutrition security rests increasingly on the capacity to deploy agricultural technologies suited to new climatic conditions.
“ICRISAT and its partners are working hard to create other, more effective technologies to strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate change and global warming.”
As Chakti millet expands its presence in Niger’s fields, it illustrates how a targeted, locally adapted solution can offer immediate and scalable support to those on the frontline of the climate crisis.