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| Digitaria exilis (Kippist) Stapf |
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Paspalum exile Kippist |
Fonio is the term for cultivated grains in the Digitaria genus. In Scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different Scientific names used for a single Taxon. Digitaria is a Genus of about 300 species of Grass (family Poaceae) native to tropical and warm temperate regions These are notable in parts of West Africa and one species in India. West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The grains are very small.
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White fonio (Digitaria exilis)
White fonio (D. exilis) is the most important of a diverse group of wild and domesticated Digitaria species that are harvested in the savannas of west Africa. Digitaria is a Genus of about 300 species of Grass (family Poaceae) native to tropical and warm temperate regions Fonio is the smallest of all species of millet. The millets are a group of small- Seeded Species of Cereal crops or grains widely grown around the world for Food and Fodder It is one of the primary cereals of southern Sudan and Ethiopia in Africa. Sudan (officially the Republic of Sudan) ( السودان al-Sūdān is a country in northeastern Africa. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page
Fonio has continued to be important locally because it is both nutritious and one of the world's fastest growing cereals, reaching maturity in as little as six to eight weeks. It is a crop that can be relied on in semi-arid areas with poor soils, where rains are brief and unreliable. The grains are used in porridge and couscous, for bread, and for beer.
Some regions in which this crop is important are the Fouta Djallon region of Guinea and the Akposso area of Togo. Fouta Djallon is a highland region in the center of Guinea, West Africa. Guinea, officially Republic of Guinea (pronounced /ˈgɪni/ République de Guinée is a country in West Africa, formerly known as French Guinea The Akposso are an ethnic group living in the Plateau region of southern Togo, west of Atakpamé, and across the border in Ghana. TOGO was a Japanese roller coaster design company famous for inventing the Stand-up roller coaster. In the latter, fonio (called ɔva) is primarily a women's crop; it and cowpeas are used to make a traditional dish). The Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata) is one of several Species of the widely cultivated genus Vigna.
The small grains make it difficult and time-consuming to remove the husk. Husk (or hull) in botany is the outer shell or coating of a seed Traditional methods include pounding it in a mortar with sand (then separating the grains and sand) or "popping" it over a flame and then pounding it (which yields a toasted color grain; this technique is used among the Akposso). The Akposso are an ethnic group living in the Plateau region of southern Togo, west of Atakpamé, and across the border in Ghana. The invention of a simple fonio husking machine offers an easier mechanical way to dehusk. A Fonio husking machine was invented by Sanoussi Diakité a Senegalese Mechanical engineer.
Mythology
According to the mythology of the Dogon people of Mali, among whom it is known as po, the supreme creator of the universe, Amma, made the entire universe by exploding a single grain of fonio, located inside the "egg of the world". The Dogon are a group of people living in the central plateau region of Mali, south of the Niger bend near the city of Bandiagara in the Mopti Mali, officially the Republic of Mali (République du Mali is a Landlocked nation in Western Africa.
Black fonio (Digitaria iburua)
Black fonio (D. iburua) is a similar crop grown in Nigeria, Togo, and Benin. Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal TOGO was a Japanese roller coaster design company famous for inventing the Stand-up roller coaster. Benin (bə'nɪn officially the Republic of Benin, and also known as Benin Republic, is a country in Western Africa.
Raishan (D. compacta)
Raishan (D. compacta) is a minor cereal, only grown in the Khasi Hills of northeast India, with glutinous flour used to make bread or porridge. The Khasi Hills are part of the Garo-Khasi range in Meghalaya, India, and is part of the Patkai range and of the Meghalaya subtropical forests India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country
References
- National Academy of Sciences (1996). The lost crops of Africa. 1. Grains. National Academies Press. ISBN 0-309-04990-3.
- Fonio: an African cereal. CIRAD. Retrieved on Jan 10, 2006. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
- Danladi Dada Kuta, Emmanuel Kwon-Ndung, Stephen Dachi, Mark Ukwungwu and Emmanuel Dada Imolehin (December 2003). "Potential role of biotechnology tools for genetic improvement of “lost crops of Africa”: the case of fonio (Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua)". African Journal of Biotechnology 2 (12): 580-585.
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