Fonio [Digitaria exilis (Kippist.) Stapf.] Diversity Revealed by Farmers and its Importance in Cropping Systems in Niger

Revitalizing cultivation and strengthening the seed systems of fonio and Bambara groundnut in Mali through a community biodiversity management approach

“…For example, in the southern sites, yields suffered from delayed planting and harvesting, as farmers in this region tend to be labour constrained (Soumaré et al ., 2008) and prioritize their time to plant and harvest cotton before their other crops. In any case, high yield variability seen in the diversity fields aligns with previous observations of fonio and Bambara groundnut that each present a diversity of traits within and between landraces (Massawe et al ., 2005; Adoukonou-Sagbadja et al ., 2007; Jørgensen et al ., 2010; Molosiwa et al ., 2015; Aliyu et al ., 2016; Sani et al ., 2018). Heterogeneity in germination rates, flowering time and growth parameters are known to contribute to yield variability in Bambara groundnut (Massawe et al ., 2005; Gbaguidi et al ., 2018).…”

“…Yield was not the only characteristic that would have driven adoption from the diversity fields. For example, the Kassambara fonio variety that has large grains and late maturation (Portères, 1955; Sani et al ., 2018) was popularly adopted in the northern study sites, where villagers reported it had good taste. The Bambara groundnut varieties had an assortment of colours, grain sizes and agronomic attributes.…”

“…Furthermore, although yields of fonio and Bambara groundnut are typically lower than for other local cereal and legume crops (pearl millet 989 kg/ha; sorghum 1048 kg/ha; maize 2538 kg/ha; rice 2541 kg/ha; peanut 969 kg/ha – Ministere de l'Agriculture, 2016), they can play important roles in diversified agricultural systems. Fonio is grown at the end of crop rotations, which extends the productivity of depleted soils (Cruz et al ., 2016; Sani et al ., 2018) and short-maturing varieties support food security during the lean period before other cereals are harvested (Vall et al ., 2011). Bambara groundnut improves soil fertility through nitrogen fixation and when intercropped with cereals, suppresses weed growth and improves soil moisture (Abu and Buah, 2011; Cleasby et al ., 2016).…”

“…Early-maturing maize varieties have supplanted the role of fonio as the first crop harvested that breaks the famine (Vall et al ., 2011). Meanwhile difficult processing and commercialization have likely demotivated the production of fonio as other options have become available, as recorded in cases across its growing range (Togo – Adoukonou-Sagbadja et al ., 2006; Benin – Dansi et al ., 2010; Senegal – Cruz et al ., 2016; Niger – Sani et al ., 2018). In the southern study sites, the sustainability of fonio adoption will depend on longer-term results of farmer experimentation.…”

“…Both crops are grown primarily for subsistence and are emerging income sources (Jideani and Jideani, 2011; Hillocks et al ., 2012). Their yields are low and irregular and their progressive abandonment has been observed in various parts of West Africa (Adoukonou-Sagbadja et al ., 2006; Berchie et al ., 2010; Dansi et al ., 2010; Abu and Buah, 2011; Sani et al ., 2018). They are currently minor crops in Mali with fonio representing 0.3% of cereal production and Bambara groundnut 4% of legume production (Ministere de l'Agriculture, 2016).…”