Niger's president, Mamadou Tandja, made the appeal during an official visit to Morocco last week.
Artificial rain is created by spraying salt crystals into clouds.
As the crystals capture water vapour and become heavy, rain follows. AFP reported a spokesman in Niger's meteorological office as saying the operation would be costly and would only be conducted in small designated areas. Niger has made an appeal to the international community for food aid. The material contained on this Web site comes to you via IRIN, a UN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Quotations or extracts should include attribution to the original sources.