In Benin, a new project is being launched in four municipalities already covered by Louvain Coopération's mutual health insurance schemes. It aims to support farmers in the Atacora region and work with them to combat hunger. At the heart of this integrated project is a cereal: fonio...
‘Fonio is a cereal, a very small seed, which is tending to disappear in West Africa, but which is still widely consumed,’ explains Adama Toni, project manager. ‘In northern Benin, one of the communities we work with has soil that is different from the others. It is a bit mountainous, the soil is poor and farmers are unable to grow the cereals that are usually produced in Benin. Market gardening is also complicated. On the other hand, it is easy to grow fonio there!’ This cereal also has the advantage of being deeply rooted in tradition, where it plays an important role in the diet. Harvested early in the year, fonio allows people to shorten the lean period between two harvests, which in some years can mean empty granaries and famine.<:p>
‘Improving food security also means helping the population get through this very difficult period,’ Adama adds.
The programme will therefore focus on promoting fonio. The aim is to encourage farmers to produce it, but also to facilitate the various processes involved in producing and processing this cereal. Currently, these processes are particularly arduous. The project managers will therefore work with farmers to find solutions to improve their working conditions.
Another aspect of this project focuses specifically on supporting women. Louvain Coopération will help them to develop various income-generating activities related to fonio, its sale and processing.