Fonio

About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 90 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for fast-maturing grain for porridge, couscous-like foods, and resilience cropping..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by wind. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: West African staple with growing interest across dryland African systems. It is grouped under: Cereals & Pseudocereals.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 400 to 800 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 1800 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 6 to 7. It does well in well-drained loam to clay loam with moderate fertility.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 20 centimetres apart, and leave about 5 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 4 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 20 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.