Production
More than 920,000 ha of fonio are grown each year in West Africa and the production runs at 700,000 t (average yield 760 kg/ha). The crop feeds several million people during what are the most difficult months of the year in terms of food supply.
Fonio production in West Africa
(rounded FAOSTAT data 2019)
| Country | Production (t) | Area (ha) |
|---|---|---|
| Guinea | 530,000 | 638,000 |
| Nigeria | 83,300 | 170,000 |
| Mali | 40,500 | 60,000 |
| Ivory Coast | 20,500 | 15,000 |
| Burkina Faso | 10,200 | 14,000 |
| Niger | 6,000 | 10,200 |
| Senegal | 5,100 | 6,000 |
| Benin | 3,800 | 6,000 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 600 | 800 |
| Total | 700,000 | 920,000 |
Production trends over the past 50 years (FAOSTAT data) show a decline in the 1970s, and then a regular recovery as from 1980 to reach a plateau by the end of the 1990s. We are witnessing a sharp increase since the beginning of the 2000s. Yields remaining relatively stable (from 700 to 850 kg/ha), this increase in production clearly stems from an expansion of the cultivated area.
Evolution of fonio production (© J-F Cruz, Cirad according to FAOSTAT)