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Fonio and wild fonio grains (© J-F Cruz, Cirad)
Fonio (Digitaria exilis) sometimes called Acha is grown in West Africa for centuries. For a long time, it was of marginal importance as a cereal due to its small seeds, but is now the object of renewed interest as consumers begin to recognize its flavour and nutritional qualities.
Research carried out over the past twenty years has led to mechanizing several processing stages, to better promote it on local urban markets or export to Europe or the United States.
This site is produced by the QualiSud and Innovation Joint Research Units of CIRAD in collaboration with West African Research Institutes (IER-Mali, IRAG-Guinea, IRSAT-Burkina Faso, ESP-Senegal...) and benefits from the contributions of many research and development actors working in and for the countries of the South.
It is aimed primarily at stakeholders in the cereal sector, but also at all those who are interested in species that are sometimes neglected but that fully participate in food diversity.
Video: Fonio
The book Le fonio, une céréale africaine (in French) was published by Editions QUAE in 2011.
The book Fonio, an African cereal (in English) was published by CIRAD and IRAG in 2016.
