The heart of the fonio belt in the Sahel region of West Africa is in Fouta Djallon, in north central Guinea. The Fouta is a remote, mountainous area, which makes access to villages in the mountains very difficult.
There are essentially two seasons—the dry season and the rainy season. Fonio is harvested towards the end of the rainy season which, because of a lack of infrastructure, further complicates access to fields and villages where fonio is harvested. Learn about how we’re working together with the local communities and resources to create a more efficient system to harvest and process fonio that’s beneficial for everyone involved:
A Harmonious Collaboration
A Better Process
Historically, the Fulani, an ethnic group originating from this region, have grown and harvested fonio by hand. In fact, Terra Ingredients initially worked with a women’s co-op to process fonio in the traditional method. However, since it took about 90 women working full-time for two weeks to fill a single container, it was clear that a new approach was needed.
It is worth noting that, though these women will no longer do this laborious task, they will remain a vital part of the Terra fonio community, working with growers and helping maintain quality control.
Bridging The Gap
The Fulani people are among the largest ethnic groups on the entire African continent. Not surprisingly, fonio is a very important crop for the Fulani, not only for their own diet, but as a salable commodity.
For some time farmers have had the ability and willingness to sell fonio to outside parties, but have had limited access to markets beyond the region. That’s why the partnership with Terra Ingredients has been so warmly welcomed. Terra Ingredients is building lasting relationships with numerous villages in the region to source its fonio.
Straight From The Source
It is our relationships with these small-scale growers in the fonio belt that has allowed us to source fonio in a sustainable and ethical way.
Equally important is the knowledge that when you buy fonio from Terra Ingredients, you buy directly from the source. This also enhances the grain’s traceability, which is vital for Terra Ingredients and our valued customers.
In all, it’s the kind of success story many companies only dream of: a partnership to bring an in-demand, sustainable, fair trade grain to the wider world while providing local farmers with access to export markets in the U.S. In this way, these farmers and these communities literally reap the benefits of fonio, enjoying meaningful quality-of-life improvements.
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