Family Farming Knowledge Platform

Sustainable preservation of strategic agricultural products to ensure food sovereignty and increase the income of both men and women farmers

The case of biological conservation of the potato and fonio in central Guinea

Due to its prime location, Guinea has significant potential for fruit and vegetable production. The country has assets such as soil fertility, abundant rainfall and a rural population traditionally oriented towards agriculture. Farmers represent 61% of the population and constitute 80% of the poor. They are mainly engaged in the cultivation of potato and fonio, a traditional cereal crop from West Africa. The areas cultivated vary between 2 and 5 hectares for potato and between 1 and 3 hectares for fonio. These crops play an important role in local staple diets. The potato is now considered a source of substantial income for rural producers in the region. The bulk of marketed production is sold to urban markets across the country. Fonio is popular for meals during cultural and religious ceremonies, and potato is often eaten to commemorate celebrations (birthdays, baptisms, weddings, reading from the Koran etc.). These crops are mainly grown on the high plateaus of Fouta Jalon where the climate allows multiple crop cycles. In this region, producers are moving away from traditional potato and fonio conservation techniques, toward modern technology using chemical inputs. In addition, producers are facing huge losses of harvests due to viral infections. These practices are a threat to farmers, consumers and the environment. To reduce this risk, EVD (European Volunteers for Development) have been implementing, since 1987, a program of support for small farmers. From 2013 to 2015, the project has entered a new phase with a focus on the sustainable conservation of these strategic agricultural products.

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Organization: Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA)
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Year: 2015
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Country/ies: Guinea
Geographical coverage: Africa
Type: Case study
Content language: English
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