Millet storehouse "TIDAOUT"
Millet is the most important food for the majority of the Tuareg population. For climate reasons it is cultivated particularly in the south of Niger and is sold on the markets of the big cities.
This fact endangers the life of the Tuareg in the north for several reasons:
- The way to the marktes is arduous and expensive (330 km to Agadez mostly on desert tracks)
- Small quantities as needed by families are sold at high price
- Bulk traders control supply and prices an sell at excessiv priices in time of want
By helping to build a millet storehouse in the region of Talak ENMIGRAW offered an important chance of survival for the resident Tuareg. In August 2004 we contributed to founding the cooperative "Tidaout". A warehouse was rented and equipped. "Tidaout" meens "meeting" in Tamashek, the language of the Tuareg.
Owing to the warehouse also in times of need enough food is available at normal and constant prices.
At the same time also animal fodder for the women’s herds of goats and sheep is stored to prevent the starving of their herds when fodder is short.
Since September 2004 six men work in the millet warehouse and provide more than 700 families with basic food at constant prices.
Probably we have to rent or build a bigger warehouse sooner or later.
| The Millet Storehouse "Tidaout" in figures | |
|---|---|
| Regular stock of the cashbox (microcredit ENMIGRAW) | CHF 1500.- |
| Maximun capacity of the warehouse | 10'000 kg |
| Periodically bought quantity (average) | 2-5'000 kg |
| Number of empolyed persons (work, purchase, sale) | 6 |
| Number of profiting families | over 700 |