Maradi Region

The Region of Maradi is one of eight Regions of Niger. It is located east of the Region of Tahoua and west of Zinder, in the center of Niger, north of Nigeria's city of Kano. The administrative center is at Maradi. The population of the Region is majority Hausa. Most of the 35,100 km² of land is classified as "Sahel," though the northern parts head toward desert, and the very southern edges along the border with Nigeria get almost 600mm a year in... more

The Region of Maradi is one of eight Regions of Niger. It is located east of the Region of Tahoua and west of Zinder, in the center of Niger, north of Nigeria's city of Kano. The administrative center is at Maradi. The population of the Region is majority Hausa. Most of the 35,100 km² of land is classified as "Sahel," though the northern parts head toward desert, and the very southern edges along the border with Nigeria get almost 600mm a year in average rainfall, with some areas receiving as much as 650mm-700mm in better years. The Maradi (Niger)-Nigeria border dips south below the Region's capital, forming an area sometimes called the "breadbasket" of Niger. While Tobacco, mangoes, wheat, soy beans and even cotton are cultivated in some areas, most crops are groundnuts grown as a commercial crop, and the national subsistence of millet, sorghum and cow peas. Culturally, the Maradi Region forms the west central section of Nigerien Hausaland, which extends along the Nigeria border (and... less