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In 1993, Sanoussi Diakite from Senegal, a professor of mechanical engineering, manufactured a husking machine that produces 5 kg of fonio in 8 minutes. Before this invention, it took about 2 hours to pound 2 kg of fonio. It is now possible to produce about 75 kg in 2 hours, thereby increasing the efficiency and productivity by 3,650%. This shows the impact and importance of the mechanization of agriculture to improve productivity in Africa. The inventor has patented his invention with the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) under the following reference number: 9944 OAPI.
©RolexAwards/Fatoumata Diabate
Several of these machines are now operational and prices vary depending on the model. The electrical fonio husking machine costs around €1,219 (800,000 CFA francs) while the thermal husking machine (oil or gasoline) costs about €2,286 (1.5 million CFA francs).
Fonio production that declined in most Western African countries is now likely to increase thanks to the husking machine, especially if this machine can be mass-produced. This is one of Sanoussi Diakite’s objectives as he is seeking funds worth about €520,000 (341 million CFA francs) to set up a factory. Given that most Western African countries consume fonio, there are potentially 16 countries that could be supplied with the fonio husking machine.
Sanoussi Diakite has won several awards thanks to his invention. He was awarded the International Rolex Prize in Geneva (Switzerland) in 1996 and the first Grand Prix du Salon Africain de l'Invention in 1997 in Dakar. In 2008, he was one of the laureates of the Tech Awards in the Health Award category. Indeed, out of 68 inventions identified around the world by the Tech Awards for the 2008 ceremony, only 25 were considered remarkable, including Sanoussi Diakite’s invention.