In a remarkable feat of agricultural revitalisation, Amaati Company Limited, a Ghanaian social enterprise, has ignited a resurgence in the fonio value chain, sparking the creation of over 22,000 employment opportunities.

This initiative, estimated to be worth more than $200,000, is not only transforming lives but also enriching communities across Northern Ghana.

Fonio, revered for its nutritional richness and cultural significance in Africa, stands as a beacon of health, low in cholesterol, sodium, and fat while boasting high levels of calcium, iron, and B vitamins.

Despite its nutritional prowess, fonio remains an overlooked indigenous crop. However, Amaati's unwavering commitment to its cultivation is rewriting this narrative.

Salma Abdulai, the Co-Founder and CEO of Amaati, shared insights into the company's remarkable journey. From humble beginnings with just 10 landowners, Amaati has surged forward, now partnering with over 5000 smallholder women farmers and 1600 men farmers.

Ms Abdulai underscored the profound impact of Amaati's efforts, highlighting the creation of over 22,000 jobs along the fonio value chain, with an estimated value exceeding $200,000 in just two years.

"Our collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and IDH has been instrumental," Ms. Abdulai stated.

Through this partnership, Amaati has provided crucial support to smallholder farmers, offering ploughing services, seed provision, and post-harvest management tools like tarpaulins, ensuring the production of quality products.

This strategic alliance has significantly expanded Amaati's reach, empowering thousands of smallholder farmers and elevating the quality of their yields.

"We've supported 4000 smallholder women farmers, enabling them to increase their yield by at least 10%, thereby generating more income," Ms Abdulai said.

Furthermore, Amaati's ability to connect farmers with lucrative markets has not only bolstered revenue streams but has also solidified its position as a sustainable business entity.

At the heart of Amaati's mission lies a vision of female empowerment. Ms. Abdulai's founding of Amaati was driven by a desire to emancipate women, providing them with avenues for financial independence and self-determination.

Through initiatives like these, Amaati is not only revitalizing fonio farming but also paving the way for a future where women stand as equal partners in economic progress and social development.

About Amaati Company

Amaati is a triple-bottom-line business tackling food insecurity and poverty in the rural savannah zone. It is a registered social enterprise that pioneered the revival of Fonio in Northern Ghana after 10 decades of its extinction.

It works with farmers, particularly women, in producing and processing Fonio. The enterprise was formed with the idea of creating sustainable livelihoods for women farmers whose lands are degraded due to excessive usage and creating a land management system where the lands can be regenerated and used to grow Fonio and food crops.

Amaati is nourishing the world starting from the soil up. The company believes that sustainable food production and consumption depend heavily on the soil, and as such, Amaati is using a market-led approach to support vulnerable landless women in deprived communities in rural savannah to cultivate a unique indigenous grain, “Fonio,” on community poor soils that have been abandoned.

As a pioneering company reviving Fonio in Ghana, it facilitates women’s access to marginal lands to cultivate Fonio.

Its mission is to create sustainable communities in West Africa through the use of Fonio, which nourishes the land, people, and society.

Its objective is to stimulate production and consumption of Fonio and its associated products by improving post-harvest processing.