When farmers of Fouta Djallon noticed that development projects were not lasting more than 4 years they founded Fouta Djallon Farmers ‘federation in November 1992 based in Timbi Madina.
There are 21,754 federation members divided into 33 zones and 705 groups which cover t 10 prefectures of Fouta Djallon (Labé, Mali-Yambering, Mamou, Dalaba, Pita, Gaouwal, Lélouma, Koundara, Koubia and Tougué). All of these members are farmers.
The Bureau of the Federation has 5 elected members: a President, a Vice President, a treasurer, a secretary and a Production Responsible. In addition to that bureau there is a president for each production channel (potatoes, tomatoes, onions, maize and rice). Moreover there is a technical team of more than 50 employees who implement the strategies and activities defined by the federation’s general assembly. These employees have all been to France and Canada in order to follow trainings, get experience and exchange ideas with farmers of these countries. Farmers of these countries come to Fouta Djallon for the same objective. These kinds of trips are called exchange trips.
The aim of this federation is to improve the income of farmers by developing the 5 channels of agricultural production: potatoes, tomatoes, onions, maize and rice.
The federation plays the function of a cooperative in centralizing the purchasing of fertilizers and agricultural materials. Fertilizers are sold to farmers as a credit campaign.
The federation plays the role of interface between producers and sellers by setting in the market the agricultural products.
They also act as a trade union by protecting the benefits of farmers and arrange infrastructures building: lands preparation, stocking stores, roads and canals.
Moreover the federation provides management, agricultural, alphabetization trainings to members. The federation is mentioned as the first private initiative which has succeeded. It is an example in West Africa that is why they receive technical trainees from Burkina Faso and Senegal. Furthermore the federation is often invited to attend national and international conferences and seminars about agriculture. The federation was invited to attend G20 conference about agriculture.
In the year 2009-2010 the federation produced 17 tons of potatoes.
The technical, financial and administrative partners of the federation are: AFD (French Agency of Development), AFDI( French Farmers and International Development),AGRICORD( Network Agri-agencies), CCFD ( Catholic Committee against Hunger), PAPP,ACDI, SIDI( International Solidarity for Development and investment, European Union, World Bank, Local Banks in Guinea(BICIGUI,SGBG), CRAB, SNPRV , DNGR, Ministries of Agriculture, Commerce and decentralization.
With the financial aid of World Bank, the federation has built two platforms for the conservation of 1,000 tons of consuming potatoes and 500 tons of seed potatoes.


Mamadou Dian Donghol Diallo
The africanews reporter in Guinea.

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