15 May. Up to 30,675 people have been affected by drought in Zinder, according to NGO and government reports. It said cereal stocks were low and prices had increased by 50 percent in March. Niger has asked Morocco to help it make rain so as to end the drought, AFP reported state radio as saying on Tuesday. President Mamadou Tandja made the appeal during an official visit to Morocco last week.
Artificial rain is created by spraying salt crystals into clouds.
The crystals capture water vapour and become heavy, resulting in rain.