Amaati

Amaati is a Ghanaian social enterprise that is leading the revival of fonio, a nutritious, climate-resilient ancient grain, in Northern Ghana. Founded in 2013 by Salma Abdulai, who has a background in Agricultural Economics, the company was established to provide sustainable livelihoods for women farmers, particularly those without land. The inspiration came from Abdulai's mother's story about women's inability to own land in the region, combined with learning that fonio could thrive on marginal, degraded lands.

The company operates a social enterprise model focused on creating impact across the value chain. It provides women farmers with access to land, input credit, high-quality seeds, machinery, and extensive training in climate-smart and regenerative agriculture. In return for these services, Amaati is repaid with a portion of the harvested fonio, which it then processes into branded grain and flour products called "DIM Fonio". This model empowers women, who constitute at least 80% of its farmer base, by increasing their financial independence. Starting with just 10 women in 2014, Amaati now works with over 5,500 smallholder farmers.

Amaati's products are sold to a diverse market including wholesalers, hotels, restaurants, schools, and local retailers throughout Ghana, with a growing portion exported to countries like Canada, the UK, and the US. The company's processing facility in Tamale produces organic-certified fonio products that meet both local and international standards, including USDA Organic. By focusing on a neglected but valuable crop, Amaati addresses food insecurity, regenerates depleted soil, and creates significant employment, having generated over 22,000 jobs in the fonio value chain.

Keywords: fonio grain, social enterprise, regenerative agriculture, women empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, Ghana agriculture, climate-resilient crops, food processing, smallholder farmers, impact investing