Rainy Season Onions (Basalle Setto)

Introduction of rainy season onions in the Fouta Djallon region of Guinea ("Basalle Setto"), 2023-2026

Donors:

Achmea Foundation

Goal

Impact goal: to increase the agricultural income of producers (men and women) and to improve the livelihoods of households.

What we do

1,500 farmers trained on good agriculture practices and post-harvest handling techniques. 325 hectares under imported onion production (150 ha during the rainy season and 175 ha during the dry season) with at least 3,500 tons of onions marketed additionally. The objective is to support farmers in the production of rainy season onions by providing them with access to inputs, good agricultural practices (GAP), as well as storage and markets. The specific objectives are:

• SO1: Improve the productivity of rainy season onions
• SO2: Improve producers' access to inputs and finance
• SO3: Improve producers' access to storage facilities and markets

Accomplishments

• A total of 89 farmer groups (2133 farmers, 1519 women), are currently participating in the project.
• Farmers received training on good agricultural practices on the production, conservation and marketing of onions (bulbs and seed onions).
• New onion varieties Prema and Dayo are being adopted by farmers on a large scale.
• Varietal tests during the dry season showed that Prema has a greater performance with yields from 14 to 28 ton/ha outperforming the control variety, Violet de Galmi.
• A 75 ton capacity storage facility has been constructed and handed over to the community of Téliré, and a management committee established to ensure its proper operation.
• A one-hectare sprinkler irrigation system has been installed in Dara Madina, to support the production of onion seedlings during the dry season.