The good practice consists of the organic cultivation of fonio, a cereal considered a traditional crop of the Bedick and Bassari peoples of southeastern Senegal, resistant to climate change and rich in nutrients, typical of the Sahelian area. Organic cultivation of fonio is a good agroecological practice because it allows a traditional plant to be grown in its different varieties, thus preserving the biodiversity of the ecosystem in question without using synthetic inputs, thus helping the land to regenerate itself. Organic cultivation adopts the agroecological approach, but in addition is accompanied by certification. In the case of the “ATNA-FONIO” project in Kédougou, the fields of 1,000 fonio producers have been certified by ECOCERT for organic production using local varieties, the seeds of which are preserved by the farmers themselves.
1. The organization
RAFF/AB
Is the organization already part of the Azione Terrae coalition?
Project title (if the practice is part of a specific project)
ECOCERT-certified organic production of fonio
ATNA-FONIO. From traditional food to the food of the future
Country(s) of implementation of the practice
Senegal
Main country
Senegal
Region and city
Kédougou region, 62 villages in the departments of Saraya, Kédougou and Salémata.
Dimensions of agroecology involved in practice
Environmental, Social, Economical
Main strategic theme
Semi
Priorities for each of the strategic themes
Land: priority
Media
Seeds: priority
Alta
Market: priority
Media
Services: priority
Bassa
Women: priority
Alta
Youth: priority
Bassa
Does the Practice have any certification?
Si
3. Context
Previous agroecology experience in the identified area, considering the chosen category and the areas of intervention/pillar
Specify agroecological dimensions
Environmental, Social, Economical
Identified needs, referring to the context and categories
4. Details
In this section we intend to deepen the Practice in relation to the document AT paper and SDG 4.7.
Objectives of good practice
The goal is to enhance preserve the biodiversity of the region by supporting it economically and socially through the promotion of sustainable and decent agricultural work by communities in the area.
What kind of challenge was faced?
The challenge faced is that of the loss of biodiversity in an area tried by mining, so the cultivation of bioogical fonio makes it possible to preserve the biodiversity of the ecosystem and at the same time allows for the challenge of revitalizing the economy of the area by involving ethnic minorities who would otherwise lose an important part of their culture, which is precisely related to fonio.
Explain your choices
The decision to invest in the production and processing of organic fonio is precisely aimed at enhancing the cultural heritage of the ethnic minorities living in the Kédougou region, boosting the region’s economy in a sector other than mining, with a truly eco-logical approach.
How practice meets the 5 Ps of the 2030 Agenda
1) People: the focus of the action is on people, particularly women who are the real actors of the practice 2) Prosperity: the goal of the practice is for families to achieve greater prosperity and economic well-being 3) Peace: it is built by valuing the culture of the ethnic minorities present in Senegal, who would otherwise be in a critical situation of destitution and could come into conflict with the ethnic majority 4) Partnership: the work of relationship and collaboration with local partners is key and it is on this that the success of the action is based 5) Planet: preserving biodiversity and safeguarding the environment for the well-being of the Planet is a key action of the practice
5. Changes
In which areas has the Practice brought about the most changes?
In which Strategic Theme has the Practice made the most changes?
Explain in qualitative and quantitative terms
The biggest changes have occurred at the “Land” level because about 1,000 ha have been redeveloped through organic production, without synthetic inputs, of fonio. In fact, this particular crop allows a lot of nutrients to be brought to the land without the need for special treatment. The other change has occurred at the seed level because each of the 62 villages has its own varieties of seeds that are used and preserved, and so we are able to maintain the use different varieties of fonio that allow us to protect the biodiversity of the surrounding ecosystem, the varieties are multiple and related to the villages and production areas. Finally, women, another change has occurred in this respect because the majority of the 1,000 producers are women and it is through their work in agriculture and the sale of their harvest that families have been able to increase their income.
Describe actions to replicate the practice
Actions to replicate the practice can be summarized as follows:
– identify an area with a similar soil composition as Kédougou that is in the same climate zone where there is opportunity to grow fonio
– identify with communities areas where organic fonio can be grown so as to regenerate and recover fallow land
– structure a network of farmers and train them on agroecological practices and organic production
– accompany the group in production and processing and marketing by providing processing machinery and facilitating linkage with markets
Indicate how the Practice is sustainable
The practice is environmentally sustainable because it allows the preservation of the biodiversity of the area through the use of different varieties of fonio, and the regeneration of fallow land allows the environmental impact of mining to be reduced.
Social sustainability is ensured by the involvement of ethnic minorities, vulnerable people, particularly women who play a key role in ensuring household food security.
Finally, economic sustainability is ensured by the fact that fonio is seen at a decent price on the market and affordable for producers, thus enhancing the value of their labor and organic production.
